Promoting diversity and inclusivity at work
Being a diverse and inclusive employer in the sport and physical activity sector offers numerous benefits that can significantly enhance your organisation
Understand and embrace the advantages of a diverse workforce
Being a diverse and inclusive employer in the sport and physical activity sector offers numerous benefits that can significantly enhance your organisation:
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Increased employee engagement and retention
Employees who feel valued and included are more likely to be engaged and committed to their work. This can lead to higher job satisfaction and lower turnover rates. -
Attract a new and wider customer base
As the demand for inclusive sport and physical activity continues to grow, employing a diverse workforce can drive customer engagement from under-represented groups as staff members can attract new networks of customers and can act as role models. -
Enhanced creativity and innovation
A diverse team brings together a variety of perspectives, experiences and ideas, fostering creativity and innovation. This can lead to more effective problem-solving and the development of innovative solutions -
Enhanced company reputation
Promoting diversity and inclusion can improve your company’s reputation, making it more attractive to top talent and customers. It demonstrates a commitment to social responsibility and ethical practices. -
Positive social impact
By fostering diversity and inclusion, you contribute to a more equitable society, promoting social justice and reducing inequalities.
Recruit and retain a diverse workforce
Retaining a diverse workforce in the sport and physical activity sector requires intentional strategies that foster inclusivity, engagement, and equal opportunities. Here are several key practices to help achieve this:
Inclusive recruitment
The first step to promoting diversity and inclusivity in the workplace is to attract and recruit a talented workforce that best reflects the diverse communities that the sport and physical activity sector serves.
Our Careers Hub offers resources dedicated to supporting employers overcome recruitment challenges in the sport and physical activity sector.
Develop inclusive policies and practices
To ensure a consistent approach to inclusion in your organisation, it is important to create and enforce policies that promote equality and prevent discrimination. These policies must then be communicated effectively to all employees.
National charity and CIMSPA partner Aspire have published a guide to employing disabled people in the sport and physical activity sector. This guide advises on creating and reviewing inclusive policies.
Create an inclusive culture
Ensure all employees feel valued and respected for their unique backgrounds and perspectives. To achieve this, it is important to recognise and celebrate cultural events and holidays from all backgrounds which will help to raise awareness and educate staff on cultures different to their own. You can also provide training and guidelines to promote inclusive language within your staff base by including, for example, guidance on proper pronoun usage.
Monitor and evaluate progress
Complete regular assessments of your diversity and inclusion efforts to identify areas for improvement. You can do this by using surveys and feedback tools to gather input from employees. You can find guidance on how to create a reliable diversity monitoring survey on the Inclusive Employers website.