The Better Hiring Institute (BHI), in collaboration with Muslim Aid, Leeds Trinity University, Leon Mann MBE, Reed Screening, Tolu Wellspring, Parliamentarians, and industry leaders, have produced the follow-up landmark guidance on Improving Fairness for People from Minority Backgrounds & Faiths.
Nearly half (48%) of young people from minority backgrounds have faced prejudice or discrimination when trying to enter the workforce. This isn’t acceptable in a modern Britain and now is a time when we must stand up for each other. Developed in Parliament with a Foreword by Lee Barron MP, the free guidance is for all UK employers to make hiring fairer for people from minority backgrounds and faiths. This guidance highlights challenges and barriers minorities face in the workplace, summarises key themes, and provides recommendations to industry and parliament to improve fairness in the world of work for minorities.
Lee Barron MP said: “Ethnic minority people have often felt the worst of the cost-of-living crisis, yet their ability to change this narrative is unfairly hampered by the prejudice and discrimination they face when trying to get a new job or when in the workplace. As the party of working people, Labour is committed to treating all workers fairly. This is central to our New Deal and our mission for growth.
I support this work by the Better Hiring Institute and urge employers to get on board and work with us to improve the lives of working people across our great country.”Keith Rosser, Chair of the Better Hiring Institute and Director of Reed Screening said: “Hearing the hiring experiences of people from the UK was sobering, people from minority faiths and/or backgrounds routinely experience more unfairness when looking for work or
when in work. I believe that key to making UK hiring the fairest in the world is addressing the shameful reality experienced by so many of our citizens. Everyone deserves a fair chance, all
hiring must be conducted on the basis of the right person for the right role, no matter the background.”
Mustafa Faruqi, Chair of Muslim Aid said: “According to the last census, 46% of the Muslim population is under the age of 24 years compared to 29% overall, representing a potentially significant economically productive workforce at a time when Britain faces an ageing population and a shortage of skilled
workers. Muslims are also more likely to live in cities where the majority of employers are based meaning we’re young, skilled and conveniently located. And yet they face more discrimination and barriers to employment than most other groups in society. Muslim Aid supports the work of this APPG to address this”
Corinne Peart, Client Relationship Director, Reed Screening said: “At Reed Screening we have an incredibly diverse workforce, and we are a better business for it. That’s because this agenda is good for business, not business doing good. The world of work is more flexible
now, which should break down even more barriers and remove obstacles, but only if we steer the future of hiring in that direction. Those with the right mentality and motivation should be given a helping hand no matter the educational or social background.”
Tolu Afelumo, Founder, Tolu Wellspring said: “The Better Hiring Institute aims to make UK hiring the fairest globally. Thanks to their hard work, we are moving in the right direction; however, consistent evidence highlights the deep-rooted disadvantages faced by people from minority faiths and backgrounds throughout the hiring process. This stark reality underscores that a considerable journey remains before true fairness in UK hiring is achieved.”
The BHI mission is to make UK hiring faster, fairer, and safer, and it exists to transform the labour market by bringing in a revolution in the way the UK hires staff. Working with the UK Government the BHI has developed best practice guidance to support employers, and Skills Revolution in Hiring is part of the UK National Hiring Framework. The Better Hiring Charter has been designed to help people back into work and is supported by many UK employers. In addition, the BHI operates the Modernising Employment All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) in Parliament which is Chaired by Lee Barron MP. This work exists to make UK hiring the fastest globally, the fairest in the world, and the safest it can be.
Those responsible for recruitment within organisations are being urged to download, implement and share the guidance within the hiring community: Access the Improving Fairness for People from Minority Backgrounds & Faiths guidance here. If you would like to join the BHI and shape the future of hiring in the sector, you can join here.
