This American multinational investment bank and financial services company, with offices in more than 42 countries and over 60,000 employees wanted to provide a space for managers to have open and honest conversations on the nature of race inclusion and race inequalities and discrimination, both in society at large and in the workplace.
Vercida Consulting were commissioned to design and deliver a ‘Let’s Talk About Race’ (LTAR) inclusion programme aimed at the manager populations based in the UK headquarters in London. Designed and delivered in summer 2020 under UK Covid government guidelines and in consultation with key stakeholders the Vercida Consulting programme team designed an interactive webinar, specifically focused on four areas.
The webinars provided every participant with a safe space to explore through discussion and exercise all aspects of race, ethnicity and racism in and out of the workplace.
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Since the beginning of the programme, regular reviews have taken place, and the workshop design has been reviewed and revised, building on participant feedback and external social impacts.
Facilitators have observed a significant shift in the attitude towards the conversation of race inclusion. Participants are now showing a genuine interest in wanting to be part of the conversation and acknowledge the work ongoing at the investment bank to create a space for open dialogue within teams across the firm.
Within the first 2 years of the programme:
• 3811 active UK employees attended an LTAR workshop
• 91.0% of UK managers attended an LTAR workshop
• 50.1% of UK employees (not in a management position) attended a workshop
Due to the success of the programme delivery, the workshops went from voluntary attendance (in 2020) to mandatory attendance (in 2021). The UK programme consisted of over 40 workshops in 2022 and the programme is now available to employees in Germany.
The next phase focuses on promoting the key principles of allyship to the investment banks manager population to support them to become active allies for race inclusion and continue to promote a culture of inclusion for all. The programme will continue to be regularly reviewed and revised to ensure the programme remains current and meets the requirements to support their EMEA Race Inclusion Strategy.
