Vanguard and Breakthrough (UK)-Winter 2009 in Review

Public sector members of the Breakthrough network addressed the complexities of community cohesion, including the challenges of “super diversity” which refers to managing the interface of often conflicting challenges between and within different ethnic communities, generational diversity, etc. The group also heard from David Morris, a leading disability campaigner on the challenges of designing and developing an inclusive Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Gender has been on the equality agenda in one form or another for the last three decades, and most leading companies would say they have this area of equality reasonably well addressed. However recent tribunal hearings of sex and pregnancy discrimination, as well as EHRC research on equal pay, tell a different story.
On the international front, the recent World Economic Forum Report on Gender Issues (measuring wage inequality; women in senior positions; health in equalities etc) saw the UK slip from 9th position in 2008 to 15th this year, and reappraisal of this set of challenges formed the basis of discussions at the recent Vanguard network meeting. Members heard from Clare Logie of Lloyds Banking Group on the challenges for women in business; from ORC’s Paul Coleman on equal pay; and from Emma Phillips of DLA Piper who shared insights on relevant legal developments.
Contact: Deirdre Golden deirdre.golden@orww.com