What the practitioners are saying: Lessons from the CIPD and National Conference for E&D

The past few months have given Equality Works the opportunity to take part in both the CIPD and national E&D Practitioners’ Conference. Both these events highlighted the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in 2010.

The National Conference for Equality and Diversity provided a fantastic opportunity to reflect on the journey of the last few decades and look ahead to the future. Many of the delegates and speakers had worked on equality and diversity issues at senior levels for several years. The various assessments of what needs to be done over the next five years to take E & D thinking into the mainstream were warmly welcomed.

Jane Farrell, speaking at the event, said

“The public sector spends over £200 billion and one of the most effective ways to mainstream equality and diversity and human rights is to require contractors to demonstrate how they ensure they will address these issues proactively. If we get them in the contract, everyone will take it seriously.”

She went on to say:

“We have to be seen to deliver on equality and diversity in hard times as well as easy times. Otherwise it will be seen as a 'nice to have'. We need to build robust business cases that people actually believe in - and talk about how equality and diversity is about getting the best, retaining the best, and delivering the best. The challenge for us all is to be able to identify the benefits - in all sectors.”

The CIPD conference obviously had a different focus as the delegates were primarily HR leaders rather than Equality and Diversity practitioners. A positive message for anyone working in the area of people and organisational development comes from the shift towards long term sustainable organisational value rather than short-term financial results.

So although there may be some challenging budget constraints over the next few years there is also a great opportunity for Equality and Diversity practitioners to position the E&D agenda as building sustainable value. Equality and Diversity practitioners need to further refine their internal consulting and influencing capability to ensure that E&D stays on the leadership agenda.

Jane, Annie and our managing consultant, Angela Williamson will be hosting an advanced skills seminar early in 2010 for Equality and Diversity practitioners interested in developing their internal consulting capability and sharing their experience of how to get Equality and Diversity onto the Executive Team’s agenda.

If you are interested in hearing more about this event or would like to discuss any of the projects in the newsletter, we’d love to hear from you. Please email Angela Williamson at angela.williamson@equalityworks.co.uk or call us on 020 7251 4939.