Third of region 's firms to improve workplace inclusivity by August - report

Research from Lloyds Bank found that almost two thirds (61 per cent) of businesses in the West Midlands plan to introduce new policies and training to improve inclusivity in the workplace - and one in three (34 per cent) plan to act in the next six months.

The survey found that firms in the region plan to prioritise training their staff on diversity and inclusion (35 per cent) as they strive to build a more inclusive working environment. One in three say they would adopt more flexible working arrangements (31 per cent) while more than a quarter intend to hire more diverse teams (28 per cent).

But for many businesses, delivering their plans will require external support and guidance. Almost half (48 per cent) said they need access to specialist HR skills, and more than a third (36 per cent) said peer-to-peer support would help with their progress towards building a more inclusive workforce.

Advice from diversity and inclusion experts was cited by 28 per cent as essential to help them move forward.

Dave Atkinson (pictured), area director for the West Midlands at Lloyds Bank, said: “It 's encouraging to see so many businesses putting plans in place to help them build a more inclusive and diverse workforce.

“Businesses in the region have a clear focus on doing the right thing and celebrating the people from all different backgrounds that make up the Midlands ' thriving community. In both society and business, diversity helps to create prosperity, and this is why we need to come together to ensure that our workplaces and professional networks are as inclusive as possible. ”