Maximising the potential of your workforce is the Holy Grail for most HR teams but how to achieve it often eludes even the best of managers.
Trying to engage an entire workforce is a daunting task, encompassing diverse elements but recognising that the complex strands which bind together a modern business can actually be a positive thing is perhaps the secret to becoming a more inclusive, productive and respected organisation.
Made in the Midlands has recognised this and is committed to helping its members become more inclusive organisations.
To this end, it has launched its new Inclusivity campaign with the intention of helping members to become more effective employers.
Linking up with long-established training provider, Righttrack Consultancy it has devised a support programme helping manufacturing firms to instil a culture that truly embraces Diversity and Inclusion.
According to Deloittes Human Capital Trends 2017 survey, the number of executives who cited inclusion as a top priority has risen 32% since 2014.
However, the Forbes Global Diversity Ranking Index, shows that Manufacturing ranks 11th out of 14 industries, with only the Construction, Utilities and Mining industries falling behind.
Across the UK manufacturing and engineering sector, there are widespread concerns regarding an ageing workforce and an insufficient number of skilled people. The sectors also lag behind others with regards to the number of females and individuals from diverse backgrounds or with disabilities it employs.
The MIM Inclusivity Campaign is an attempt to address the UKs engineering skills gap, whilst at the same time, helping to make businesses more productive and profitable.
Righttrack has designed a inclusivity health check for businesses which they can use to identify what best practice might look like and how to achieve it.
Righttracks senior consultant, Gamiel Yafai, an award-winning Diversity and Inclusion strategist and author of Demystifying Diversity, is leading the project.
He said: An inclusive and diverse workforce allows organisations to benefit from a variety of views and perspectives, allowing them to find more creative solutions and harness different talents to be more successful.
It is proven that organisations which are more diverse and inclusive perform better and are ultimately more profitable but there is still a way to go until the manufacturing industry has a reputation for being sufficiently diverse and inclusive.
To create a culture that truly embraces diversity and inclusion, Mr Yafai believes it is critical that managers at all levels lead by example.
To be an inclusive leader, managers need to create an environment where everyone is confident to speak up, to challenge and make themselves visible. They must create a safe environment to propose novel ideas and empower team members to make decisions, and mistakes, he added.
Becoming an inclusive and diverse employer will help you gain a competitive advantage. Not only will you be addressing the skills gap, but you'll be future-proofing your workforce.
As a result of joining the MIM Inclusivity Campaign, businesses are being invited to a half-day workshop led by Mr Yafai, and will be presented with a comprehensive toolkit designed to give those attending, the confidence and skills to embrace diversity and inclusion at all levels of the organisation, and reap the benefits as a consequence.
The first of these workshops have taken place in both the Midlands and at MIMs sister organisation, Made in Yorkshire, and feedback from both events has been very positive with delegates committed to broadening the horizons of their organisations.