By highlighting the lack of ethnic representation at director level within UK businesses we can work to ensure that the number of ethnic minority directors within the FTSE 100 doesn’t drop for a second year; 2018 only having 84 out of 1,048 ethnic minority directors.
Our research at Equality Group, published in November 2018, has shown over 3 million ethnic minority Brits (59%) aspired upon leaving school to securing a role at senior management, director and/or board level. Half of ethnic minority respondents noted that there are no prominent role models of their ethnic profile in positions they aspire/have aspired to reach professionally and 46% of ethnic minority citizens were encouraged to commence their career in a role that did not reflect their career aspirations or academic credentials at that time. Worryingly, over half of British ethnic minority citizens declared that they were advised to be more realistic in regards to their career goals by those who influenced their career, compared to only 19% of non-minority ethnic citizens.
This report makes it clear that ethnic minority students have strong support structures available to them throughout their educational careers. However, there seems to be a significant deficit upon entering the world of work. This research indicates that young ethnic minority students have significant levels of professional aspiration, supported by an educational infrastructure, that should, in theory, enable them to excel within their chosen professional careers. This is however far from the reality when assessing the UK’s black, Asian and minority ethnic (Bame) representation at senior management, board and director level. It is a shocking reality that in 2019, the workplace does not nurture and support Bame talent in a manner that reflects the undeniable aspirations prominent in this community. As a society of business leaders, decision-makers, professionals and commentators, we have an obligation to ensure that intention is met with action to ensure the UK’s workforce, in its entirety, has access to a democratised career ladder that promotes inclusion for all at every level.
Hephzi Pemberton is founder of Equality Group
