UK businesses failing to measure impact on diversity and inclusion

News
Joanne Swann
close-up photo of high-rise building

73% of businesses in the UK do not have a measurement framework for diversity and inclusion, new research has found.

The survey of UK business leaders from organisational transformation consultancy Watch This Sp_ce(1) found that 44% are assessing the impact of their inclusion efforts informally, and 56% are not measuring impact at all. 19% of the businesses surveyed didn’t have any kind of diversity and inclusion strategy whatsoever.

This is worrying news at a time when 62% of job seekers (2) would reject a job offer from an organisation without a good track record on diversity and inclusion, and 68% of staff(3) would look for a job elsewhere if their organisation was not prioritising diversity and inclusion.

Diversity and inclusion roles have increased dramatically(4) in the UK in recent years, and 72% of businesses(5) have a dedicated budget for inclusion activities. So why aren’t businesses measuring the impact of all this spending?

According to Allegra Chapman, Co-Creator of Watch This Sp_ce, the answer is fear.

Most businesses are going into diversity and inclusion in panic mode. They know that their staff want to see action in this area, or they might very well leave, or at least become disengaged. They also know that their customers and clients are demanding action, or they will take their money elsewhere. So leaders rush into doing something, anything, without thinking through what actions are really needed, or how they will know if those actions are working.

Allegra Chapman, Co-Creator of Watch This Sp_ce

The result is often performative activity that generates little result, which in the long run could actually damage the reputation of the business.

When businesses are engaged in diversity and inclusion efforts that aren’t strategic or measured, it can be hugely wasteful in terms of money and resources, and also highly demotivating for the team involved.

This was the inspiration for the Watch This Sp_ce team to create their Inclusion Journey Tracker,(6) a tool that enables businesses to benchmark their current situation, identify the actions needed to move forward, and measure and celebrate their progress.

Level One of the Inclusion Journey Tracker is completely free to access, and businesses earn an accreditation at each level, which enables them to showcase their commitment to real action on D&I.

Sources

1. https://www.watchthisspace.uk

2. https://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/article/1793094/majority-candidates-reject-job-offer-employer-didnt-support-diversity-research-finds

3. https://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/article/1801309/two-thirds-uk-workers-look-new-job-employer-not-prioritise-dei-report-finds

4. https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/surge-in-demand-for-di-roles-in-past-five-years/

5. https://blog.workday.com/en-gb/2023/uk-businesses-embracing-diversity.html

6. https://inclusionjourney.scoreapp.com/

Joanne Swann, Content Manager, WorkWellPro
Editor at Workplace Wellbeing Professional | Website |  + posts

Joanne is the editor for Workplace Wellbeing Professional and has a keen interest in promoting the safety and wellbeing of the global workforce. After earning a bachelor's degree in English literature and media studies, she taught English in China and Vietnam for two years. Before joining Work Well Pro, Joanne worked as a marketing coordinator for luxury property, where her responsibilities included blog writing, photography, and video creation.

Share

Latest News

Latest Analysis

Related Articles

LGBTQ+ Workers ‘Face Distinct Retirement Challenges and Opportunities’

LGBTQ+ employees are approaching retirement with different expectations, concerns and support needs compared with their heterosexual peers.

Patience Ogunbona: Why Introverted Leaders Are Burning Out in Workplaces Built for Extroverts

There is a version of leadership that gets rewarded in most organisations. It is loud, visible, and always on. It is the kind that gets promoted.

Half of Bereaved Employees ‘Managing Death Administration During Work Hours’

Half of UK employees who have lost a loved one are handling practical bereavement-related tasks during their working day, according to new research.

Top Usa Real Cash Casinos 2026 Verified By Experts

Discover the top USA real cash casinos verified by experts in 2026. Compare licensed online casinos offering generous bonuses, thousands of slots, live dealer games, and secure banking options for American players.
Previous article
Suzy Glaskie: Taming the blood sugar rollercoaster at work
Next article
Five ways small businesses can commit to becoming Fertility Friendly