Why diversity matters - four reasons to prioritise inclusion

Why focusing on diversity makes good business sense

Striving to increase diversity is not just the right thing to do ethically, it’s also an extremely sound business decision. Why? Because diverse teams are proven to deliver better outcomes for your employees, clients and bottom line.

Here are four big reasons to make equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) a priority when recruiting:

1) It boosts performance, innovation and adaptability

Bringing together people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives leads to better ideas. Diverse teams tend to be more creative, innovative, and better at solving complex problems.

Multiple studies, including ongoing research from McKinsey, show that diverse organisations are more likely to outperform their peers financially. But it’s not just about results, these teams are also more adaptable – crucial in today’s rapidly evolving world. They’re better equipped to navigate change, tackle challenges from different angles, and find solutions that a team with similar outlooks might overlook.

2) It improves your client relationships and market reach

EDI also matters to your clients and customers. Increasingly, organisations want to work with partners who share their values and show a genuine commitment to inclusion. EDI and social value are often key components in tenders and pitches, especially in the public sector, and how you approach them can play a big part in winning new business.

Showing that you’re actively building an inclusive culture not only widens your talent pool, it helps strengthen business relationships too – after all, your customer base is also broad and diverse. An inclusive culture goes beyond creating a welcoming environment for employees, it also creates a welcoming environment for new clients.

3) It widens your talent pool and strengthens your employer brand

In today’s competitive job market, companies need every advantage they can get. Focusing on diversity and inclusion helps you tap into a much broader pool of candidates and increases your chances of hiring people who can help your business to thrive.

When EDI matters to your business, it enhances your reputation, strengthens your employer brand and makes your company more attractive to values-driven candidates. Integrating an inclusive recruitment process will help to shift perceptions and will gradually increase the diversity of your talent pool, as well as improving staff retention.

4) It builds a better workplace culture

Well actually, it’s two sides of the same coin – nurturing an inclusive culture will increase diversity, and greater diversity will strengthen your culture! 

When people are welcomed, supported, valued for their differences and feel like they belong, they are more engaged, motivated, productive and loyal. They will become ambassadors for your brand.

In a workplace where different voices are heard and valued, groupthink is reduced, risk is mitigated, new ideas are encouraged, innovation thrives. The results? Happier employees, better retention and a more resilient organisation overall.

Diversity isn’t a nice to have, its essential.

Inclusion is the first step towards diversity. Diversity doesn’t just mean visual differences, it means building teams with a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, experiences and ideas. Building diverse teams is proven to drive results – and the evidence is overwhelming. Here’s yet another recent survey to back this up. 88% of tech leaders in the UK believe that inclusive recruitment and retention are key drivers of innovation, better products and profitability. Search online, and you'll find a whole lot more.

The more inclusive your hiring strategy, the stronger your team, the better your client relationships and the greater your long-term success will be.

To find out more about our inclusive recruitment process, get in touch with one of our Consultants.