Sarah Howard MBE
Chair, British Chambers of Commerce
The UK’s 5.5 million SMEs are the beating heart of the economy, but they need help to create more equitable workplaces.
Creating a level playing field for everyone in a workplace makes good business sense. It helps companies recruit — and retain — employees who are skilled, engaged and productive. Yet, research by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) shows that less than half of SMEs have introduced specific policies or programmes for underrepresented groups in the workplace.
How SMEs can become more equitable
SMEs want to do the right thing, supporting everyone who wants to achieve their potential. However, as they face economic headwinds, they need support and advice to move forward. Last year, the BCC convened a commission to examine how workplaces can become more equitable, focusing particularly on SMEs.
Research1 carried out for the Commission by the polling agency Find Out Now in March revealed that a quarter of surveyed employees (25%) believed that not everyone in their workplace has the same opportunities. Over a quarter (28%) of respondents also said they believed they unfairly missed out on a workplace opportunity in the past two years. The report, released in September, was published in partnership with Youth Futures Foundation. It contains over 40 recommendations.
Government and business must
work together to remove barriers
to work and career progression.
Inclusivity’s impact on UK society and economy
The overarching aims are clear. Government and business must work together to remove barriers to work and career progression; create flexible and supportive workplaces; establish better training for employers to boost confidence and cultural change; and create a legislative framework that sets out clear expectations.
What SMEs do matters to the wider economy and society. Research by Youth Futures Foundation suggests that tackling youth unemployment could add £69 billion to the UK’s GDP over the long term. The Centre for Ageing Better calculates that closing the employment gap for older workers could generate £9 billion annually for the UK economy. Scope says that halving the disability employment gap would bring economic returns of £17 billion to the UK annually. With businesses and policymakers working together, we can make real progress for a truly equitable and inclusive UK economy.
[1] Boosting opportunity and realising potential report of the Workplace Equity Commission, 2024.
