Top UK companies are being encouraged to participate in a diversity and inclusion review to highlight the key issues holding back growth, innovation, and creativity in the economy, where equalities activist Lord Simon Woolley is a supporter.

The McKenzie Delis Foundation, a charitable organisation committed to creating better workplace diversity, equality, inclusion and belonging and Ipsos MORI, a global market research company, are behind the report, which has now launched for 2021.

CEO’s of every FTSE 100 firm will receive an open letter where Leila McKenzie-Delis, CEO of Dial Global and Founder of The McKenzie Delis Foundation, and Lord Simon Woolley, Operation Black Vote CEO and member of the House of Lords, amongst others, are calling on corporate leaders to be part of the new initiative.

According to its proponents, the 2021 McKenzie-Delis Review on Diversity and Inclusion is the first of its kind to take a “holistic approach to diversity and inclusion” by providing a review of how employers are addressing and prioritising their efforts across 10 facets of workplace diversity and inclusion as opposed to focusing “on a single facet of diversity, such as gender or ethnicity.”

These facets include Ethnicity, Gender, Age, Nationality, Mental Health, Sexual Orientation, Socioeconomic Status, Disability & Neurodiversity, Religion, and Parenthood.

The Review, which is expected to be published in April 2022, is based on self-reported practices of UK companies. Large and medium UK businesses will be invited to participate in a survey on their D&I approaches and practices to inform the report starting October 4.

The report will showcase the top 25 companies driving change to create greater diversity and equality in the workplace across the 10 facets. It will share progress and trends and provide actionable guidance for businesses to improve their diversity and inclusion (D&I) efforts. The report will also cover the US market for the first time, incorporating businesses from the Fortune 100.

An independent review committee of corporate and non-profit leaders will guide the report’s framework. Members include Verizon, KPMG, Walgreen Boots Alliance, Google, Intel, Microsoft, Motorola, Bridgestone, and other international firms.

Participants will receive a personalised scorecard that compares their performance to peers and other top-performing organisations in the UK and the US for each of the 10 facets, at no cost. The tool identifies opportunities for improvement and will guide how to get there.

Leila McKenzie-Delis, Founder, The McKenzie Delis Foundation, said: “The McKenzie-Delis Review is not your typical ranking or best-of list but creates an industry-standard diagnostic and meaningful report to harness the power of all aspects of both visible and invisible diversity.

“The Review is designed to help companies turn commitments into actions and go beyond traditional diversity pledges to track progress over time in a way that will help position them to recruit and retain the top talent they need to be competitive.”

Lord Simon Woolley, Operation Black Vote CEO, member of the House of Lords and Co-Chair of the UK McKenzie Delis Review Committee, said: “Big businesses are starting to ask some searching questions when it comes to diversity and inclusion, but there is so much more that needs to be done, particularly in senior leadership positions.

“We need to ensure we create multiple pathways to success and a pipeline of diverse talent so that people know it doesn’t matter where you start – you can get to wherever you want to be. Institutions, policy, business, and society all benefit if we can get diversity right.”

Bina Mehta, Chair of KPMG UK and Co-Chair of the UK McKenzie Delis Review Committee, added: “I see the benefits diversity brings to business every day, from the quality of conversations and different perspectives people bring right the way through to delivering better business outcomes for our firm and our clients.

“It’s vital businesses play their part in championing inclusion, diversity, and equity. Diversity of thought is integral to the growth and sustainability of all businesses. Participation in the McKenzie-Delis Review is a chance to join with like-minded organisations to make a difference in society as well as business, to drive equity and inclusion, and to dismantle barriers and empower growth and progress.”

For more information and to participate, click here.