Why is inclusion important?

How I can Help

I will help you to make an inclusive culture a reality.

Are your people confused about what inclusion, diversity, equity and belonging are all about? Are they nervous about engaging in conversations about the topics involved and scared of making ‘mistakes’?

I will help you to change this situation in your business or organisation

My Approach

I believe that collaboration with clients is key to success. I will work closely with you to understand your challenges and goals, developing solutions which are tailored to your specific needs. My approach is analytical and exploratory, honest and dispassionate, allowing me to take a truly objective view in the pursuit of success.

I will help you to:

• Build awareness of the value of diversity and the importance of an inclusive working environment
  
• Remove barriers to inclusion which would undermine diversity
  
• Create a working environment enabling everyone to thrive and reach their potential
  
• Build resilience for the long-term
• Make meaningful links between wellbeing and inclusion

If you are already further along your journey but have stalled along the way, I will work with you to analyse your needs and provide solutions, enabling you to re-energise and sustain the transformation.

Services

Starting out

Start-up service for businesses and organisations beginning their inclusion journey

• Initial discussion to determine inclusion and diversity goals, both short and long-term.
  
• Analysis of the business (e.g. current state, nature of business, processes, policies, learning & development in place, any available data on staff including protected characteristics, sickness absence, HR casework, infrastructure, physical working environments, recruitment practices, staff engagement, communication practice, also through conversations and focus groups. number of days dependent on size and complexity of business.
  
• Report delivered and discussed to include advice on; assessment of risks, opportunities and potential barriers; how to overcome them.
  
• Learning and development requirements to enable progress
  
• Signposting to tried and trusted I&D training and development providers.
  
• Support to the business to ensure relevant and tailored programmes are developed and delivered.
  
• Potential for ongoing support to L&D departments for reviewing and evaluating the efficacy of these programmes including modifications, return on investment and culture change progress.
  
• Options for taking part in benchmarking and partnership working
  
• Policy and process requirements
  

There will be an option for ongoing support on a retainer basis.

From Intent to Reality

Service for businesses and organisations who have begun working towards greater inclusivity and diversity - from intention to reality!

• Starting point: some progress has been made but help is needed to move to the next level.
  
• Initial discussion to understand progress so far, goals for the next stage and the timeframe for desired change.
  
• Analysis of progress so far and barriers to future change.
  
• Report delivered and discussed to include advice on the following:
  
• Risks and opportunities associated with moving to the next level.
  
• How to maximise and embed success
  
• How to embed behaviour change
  
• Making inclusion the norm
  

Option for ongoing support on a retainer basis.

Facing The Challenge

Service for businesses and organisations which have a specific issue to address.

An example of this could be an area of the business which, because of its function, is presenting challenges to inclusion which are not mirrored in other business areas, e.g. a male-dominated environment with few female staff which is keen to move from a sexist mind-set and behavioural style to something more welcoming and supportive to women.

The work may include how to challenge banter, help to partner with specialists in things like disability or neurodiversity as appropriate and analysis of learning and development needs.

Honest assessment of barriers across the business: working with HR staff to assist with understanding and improving their ability to support the change.

Exploration of the appetite for the change and analysis of what’s really in the way.

Communicating the change, engaging with stakeholders and bringing everyone on the ‘journey’.

For Professional Bodies

Changing operating principles and a code of practice in professional bodies

Where there is a desire to weave a greater awareness of inclusive practices through a professional body in order to ensure that behaviours reflect the change in standards and expectations.

To include:

• Discussion and exploration of goals
  
• Understanding the membership, current attitudes and potential barriers
  
• Engagement with stakeholders to create buy-in
  
• Communicating the change
  

About Me

I’m Sue, an award-winning inclusion and diversity specialist with 16 years’ experience in the field across different sectors and organisations.Over the course of those 16 years, it’s become clear that the subject of diversity has gained recognition for its transformational value to the workplace.

Passionate about books and the power of the written word to change society, I graduated in English Literature in 1985 and followed this with two years in the world of commerce. The decision to leave this world and pursue a teaching qualification shaped my career, instilling a desire to work towards the common good using education as a means of empowering people to enable change.

Since then, I’ve worked in roles and environments as diverse as a public inquiry, a prison, the NHS, further education and local government culminating in a long period honing my skills in a dedicated inclusion role for a large charity. In 2023 I was honoured to be the winner of the Eily Keary Award in recognition of ED&I activities, presented by the Royal Institution of Naval Architects and sponsored by BP.

I am proud to be able to say that my outlook on inclusion is rooted in an unconventional career with diverse experiences of very different people, in very different places, which gives me a unique perspective on both the causes of exclusion and the potential solutions for change.

Email or give me a call to discuss how I can support you.