Race to the Top: The place of ethnic minority groups within the UK workforce

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02IRace for Opportunity (RfO)| Race to the top

Cntents

Frewrd

03

Intrductins and main ndings

04

Mind the gap

05

Mixed picture acrss sectrs, regins and gender

06

Is there a specic back British issue?

08

Psitive signs f change

09

Regina andscape

10

Trube at the tp

11

Credit crunched?

12

Cncusin

12

Recmmendatins

13

Cntact us

14

Frewrd

British society is becoming more multi-ethnic and culturally diverse by the day.This is increasingly reected in everyaspect of popular culture from sportto fashion. But is it reected where itcounts most - in the boardrooms andmiddle management of companiesand organisations, where black, Asianand minority ethnic workers can bestrong role models for the upcominggeneration aspiring to positions of real inuence onBritish society? Business in the Community’s Race forOpportunity (RfO) campaign is committed to speeding upthe progress of ethnic minority people in the workplace.To establish the scale of the challenge, we commissionedground breaking research to nd out exactly how muchprogress black, Asian and minority ethnic groups (BAME)have made in reaching the higher echelons of businessand public sectors.The ndings in this research demonstrate that it istime for every organisation to look at their Boards andmanagement teams and take action. In January thisyear, Barack Obama will be ofcially handed the mostcomplex and high prole management job in the world- the Presidency of the United States - and will be therst African-American or indeed member of any ethnicminority to hold that post. Sadly Britain not only seemsfar from having its rst BAME Prime Minister but is alsofailing to rid its workplace of the barriers that stop ethnicminority employees achieving management positionsin sufcient numbers.

Barack Obama won the mosthigh prole management post in the world with theslogan “Yes, we can”. Without major and urgent policyintervention or action from businesses, the messageto ethnic minorities aspiring to management in theUK is: “No, you won’t.”

If we ever want to reect the multicultural society inwhich we live - it will mean having an ethnic minorityman or woman as Prime Minister and Chief Executiveof a FTSE 100 rm. To achieve this, action is required.The ndings of this report clearly demonstrate the paceof change is too slow and it is up to those in power,particularly those in business, to ensure they extendopportunities for everyone.

Sandra KerrNational Director of the Race for Opportunitycampaign, Business in the Community

03IRace for Opportunity (RfO)| Race to the top