Beating the odds: building diversity and inclusion at LettUs Grow
Beating the odds: building diversity and inclusion at LettUs Grow
Diversity and inclusion are two of the most discussed topics in recruitment and HR at the moment - and for good reason. Diversity of thought and life experience fosters collaboration and innovation. It promotes connection, openness and understanding. Having a diverse and inclusive workforce promotes equality and fairness and is ultimately vital to a company’s success.
Yet even with diversity at the epicentre of hiring discussions, statistics still show a lack of representation for minority groups. Historically, individuals from minority backgrounds have been largely underrepresented in business environments, especially in the technology industry.
A study conducted by Diversity in Tech shows that only 15% of the tech workforce in the UK are from BAME backgrounds and gender diversity is currently sitting at 19% compared to 49% for all other jobs. Another study conducted by Wired shows the share of US technical employees working at the tech giants Google and Microsoft who are black and Latinx rose by less than one percent from 2014 to 2019. The share of black technical workers at Apple was unchanged at 6 percent.. At LinkedIn, among the company’s 6,435 employees, just 5 percent are Latinx and 3 percent are black. Furthermore, a 2018 study from Statista found that only 28% of tech jobs at Netflix are held by women.
Those numbers are pretty bleak, and this isn’t to say that these companies aren’t making efforts towards creating diverse and inclusive working environments. They claim to spend millions on inclusive recruitment campaigns and scholarship funds every year.
This begs the question, if big tech companies (with the weight of the world’s wealth behind them) have difficulty recruiting a diverse workforce, what power do start-ups and scale-ups have in making a difference?
The answer: a lot. Being a start-up or scale-up shouldn’t limit you from creating a workforce that is diverse, equal, inclusive and fair. There are tools in every company’s toolbox that don’t require capital or fame and still produce positive outcomes. Start-ups are known for being forward thinking and innovative, and that kind of energy is exactly what the technology industry needs right now.
So what do we do at LettUs Grow ?
We work with our local community
Bristol is home to some amazing organisations doing the work to promote inclusivity and diversity in the tech industry. We are proud to work with them united in the journey to equality.
We seek to work with companies that are both impactful and caring. One company that truly exemplifies both of these values is Babbasa. Babbasa is an exceptional Bristol-based organisation which provides one-to-one mentoring, training opportunities and work placements to youth from Bristol’s ethnically diverse inner city communities. We also advertise our roles with Ashley Community Housing, an organisation that supports refugees in finding accommodation and employment in Bristol. Both of these organisations assist in ensuring our opportunities reach diverse audiences.
Alongside working with not-for-profits, we also work with local universities. This year, we received funding from the University of Bristol to take on a female engineering placement that will help us develop technology that benefits our community in the wake of Covid-19.
When it’s time to recruit for more niche positions, we work with trusted recruitment agencies that are steadfast in promoting diversity in tech. Companies such as Adlib and Socially Responsible Recruitment have been part of our success in recruiting able and diverse talent. While we mostly recruit in-house, having key partners in the industry helps, especially when you’re in the start-up or scale-up phase.
These relationships have been built up through engaging with our local community by attending webinars, panels, discussions and workshops. We do the work and connect with others who are doing the same.
We also think big
Engaging with your local community is essential, however it’s also important to think big. Who do you think your job advertisements aren’t reaching and why? What companies are working to change this? Do the research and reach out.
What you’ll most likely find is that there is a huge resource of companies aiming to change this dynamic in tech. For example, we are pledged members of the Tech Talent Charter, a company dedicated to increasing diversity in the tech industry. This partnership isn’t just a pledge, it also requires a thorough annual report of diversity and inclusivity metrics. It’s free to join, making it an accessible tool for all organisations no matter the bank statement.
Furthermore, we advertise on larger scale platforms dedicated to women in STEM and the BAME community such as Women in Engineering, Women in Technology, Codefirst, Diversity in Tech, Women's Tech Hub, Ada's List and AFBE-UK. There are numerous organisations advertising tech jobs to the BAME community, women and other minority groups at varying costs. Find the platforms that work best for you and nurture those relationships.
The journey doesn’t end at recruitment
It’s not just about the recruitment process. Recruitment is the seed but once hired employees need resources and support to flourish.
For smaller companies who are just starting out this can seem like a big task. With little capital how do you go about offering external training or mentoring? How do you ensure your policies are fair? How do you foster inclusivity? There are some easy wins here that don’t require digging deep into company pockets and produce a much more enriching office environment.
Check-ins are the most cost effective way to ensure your team feels supported and listened to. LettUs Grow managers have one-to-one meetings with every person on their team at least once a month. These are personal and professional informal check-ins; a cup of coffee and a chat. What we find is that if someone isn’t at their best we know right away, which gives us time and space to support that individual's needs.
Another area to consider is leadership. In a Harvard Business Review study, 78% of employees said they work at organisations that lack diversity in leadership positions. We have a duty as employers to ensure that every single human who fits the job description regardless of the color of their skin, sexual orientation or gender has access to leadership positions, and just as importantly, feels confident in applying for them. Having a diverse leadership team helps provide a wider range of role-models for staff to identify with, allows for more empathetic management, and gives employees greater confidence in aiming for these positions as they grow in their careers.
At LettUs Grow, we have five women in leadership positions out of twelve including our Engineering Manager, Head of Operations, Research and Development Lead, Mechanical Lead and Marketing and Communications Lead. These women are in these positions because they perfectly fit their roles. They manage responsibly, openly and honestly and make sure that inclusivity is at the root of their work and relationships.
Finally, inclusivity is truly fostered by a company’s culture. Culture is free and happens naturally, however by giving your culture the appropriate refinement you can create a workplace that is inclusive and supportive. How? Define your values and embed them into the business. This can mean anything from creating gender neutral toilet signs, checking-in regularly with neurodiverse staff, using presentations as a tool to educate and engage in open and honest communication.
There is still room to grow
As we have seen from the year 2020, the world is not perfect. There is still so much more room to grow and improve. It is still commonplace in the world today for a woman's voice to be silenced in a boardroom. There are still reports of transgender individuals being attacked in some workplaces. Somehow the world still gets angry when saying a black life matters. There is still so much work to be done.
We want to break these stigmas and challenge these statistics. We want to be a part of the solution. We want a work force full of diverse talent with individuals from all walks of life collaborating together to create a more sustainable and inclusive world.
We are up for the challenge. Are you?
Written by Chelsea Dow, People & Cultures Manager at LettUs Grow.