Progress Together will work to create a financial services sector in the UK in which EVERYONE working in it is both enabled and has the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
The measure of success will be: Greater levels of socio-economic diversity at senior levels, across our membership.
“It’s vital industry tackles the issue of socio-economic diversity at senior levels across UK financial services, if we are to attract and retain the necessary skills and talent the sector requires to remain diverse, inclusive and globally competitive’.
The Financial Services Skills Commission
Why is socio-economic diversity important?
Evidence tells us that opaque processes exist around promotion, work allocation and senior level sponsorship. This means that career progression is all too often led by attributes such as visibility, familial and education connections, shared cultural or social experience, perceived gravitas and confidence. This is driving down productivity, creativity and innovation.
Socio-economic diversity leads to:
Better business outcomes
Increased productivity
Greater innovation
Improved decision-making through diversity of thought
Better consumer outcomes
Enhanced talent retention where employees feel valued and appreciated
In order to achieve this aim, Progress Together:
Focuses on senior level socio-economic diversity – with progression, retention and inclusion at the core
Drives engagement from Boards and senior management by encouraging them to take ownership of and action on socio-economic diversity, promoting the culture and strategy needed to advance socio-economic diversity, with particular focus on their most senior leadership positions
Works with UK financial services employers, wherever they may be on their socio-economic diversity journey, to help them understand the barriers when it comes to progression and then remove these barriers through practical actions and guidance
Adopts an evidence-based approach, collecting and sharing anonymous data on an agreed basis, to help drive improvement and measure progress with the organisation and across the sector
Actively advocates for socio-economic diversity at senior levels through sharing best practice, identifying emerging issues/trends and seeking necessary changes in policy & practice.
In order to achieve this aim, Progress Together:
- Focuses on senior level socio-economic diversity – with progression, retention and inclusion
at the core. Drives engagement from Boards and senior management by encouraging them to take ownership of and action on socio-economic diversity, promoting the culture and strategy needed to advance socio-economic diversity, with particular focus on their most senior leadership positions
Works with UK financial services employers, wherever they may be on their socio-economic diversity journey, to help them understand the barriers when it comes to progression and then remove these barriers through practical actions and guidance
Adopts an evidence-based approach, collecting and sharing anonymous data on an agreed basis, to help drive improvement and measure progress with the organisation and across the sector
Actively advocates for socio-economic diversity at senior levels through sharing best practice, identifying emerging issues/trends and seeking necessary changes in policy & practice.
Our Founding Partners
Our Founding Partners
