Retail Week | Diversity DNA: Building a D&I strategy that works

Green Park are proud to be data partners of the latest Retail Week Be Inspired report, driving inclusivity; Diversity DNA: Building a D&I strategy that works.

Focussing on embedding diversity and inclusion into the core of business and building a strategy that not only creates impact but also results, the report analyses the current state of the retail sector and highlights global diversity and inclusion leaders through exclusive case studies.

Using key findings from our Green Park Business Leaders Index, mapping the gender and ethnocultural diversity of FTSE 100 senior leadership, the report highlights the positive increase in FTSE 100 board and executive committee roles held by women between 2019 to 2020 – up from 29% to 32%. However, in contrast, FTSE 100 organisation in the retail sector have seen a decline in female leaders; of the 14 sectors represented in the FTSE 100, retail was the only sector to have gone backwards, dropping from 32% in 2019 to 30% in 2020.

Diversity DNA: Building a D&I strategy that works identifies the lack of diversity data as a major barrier for retailers to enact real change. Compulsory gender pay gap analysis has enabled transparent tracking of progress, while some retailers are taking similar action with ethnicity pay gap reporting there needs to be sector wide action to inspire organisation to push this agenda.

Jo Heath, Partner at Green Park and Head of the Diversity, Inclusion, Culture and Ethics Practice comments:

A clear evidence base and data that find disproportionate outcomes exist in our workplaces and in our society. These outcomes go on to affect the promotion and progression of some groups, which is evident in the retail sector where ethnocultural diversity is present in the more junior grades and then drastically diluted at store manager and senior leadership level.

To download the full report visit the Retail Week website, click here.