The Civil Service has made great strides in its diversity and inclusion agenda over recent years, and last week saw them celebrating National Inclusion Week. As part of this, Head of the Civil Service, Sir Jeremy Heywood, took a look back at their progress.
“My ambition is be the UK’s most inclusive employer.”
Applauding the work of the Talent Action Plan (TAP) and TAP refresh in March – focussed on recommendations surrounding gender issues, flexible working, supporting ethnic minorities and access for those with disabilities – Sir Jeremy is determined that, on his watch, diversity will remain a top priority. For an organisation that advises on and delivers so many public services, this is a welcome and exciting attitude for an employer of over 400,000 people.
Looking to the future.
Sir Jeremy emphasised there is more to do:
“To become the best we need to go up another level. We need to ensure that the changes in policy are accompanied by changes in culture throughout the Civil Service. And that means all of us looking at what we can do to make ourselves and the teams we work in more inclusive, so that we are not simply ticking the ‘diversity’ box but are actually becoming an organisation that genuinely values difference not conformity.”