DIVERSITY Mark NI, the awarding body of the Diversity Mark accreditation, has reached a significant milestone, with organisations signed up, working towards achieving and maintaining the Diversity Mark now representing 80,000 employees, with almost 40 per cent of those companies based in the STEM sector.
Four of the north's leading IT firms – Allstate, Learning Pool, Liberty IT and Outsource – have been accredited through Diversity Mark for more than two years, and in that time have jointly increased their female workforce by 27 per cent overall and by 30 per cent specifically in senior management positions.
All four companies have grown collectively by 401 employees since they joined Diversity Mark with 47 per cent of all new hires being female, tipping the overall gender balance collectively in favour of women by 3 per cent.
Launched in 2017 by Women in Business, Diversity Mark are now the leading authority in diversity in the UK and Ireland, and the accreditation recognises an organisation’s commitment to embracing diversity and creating an inclusive culture for all staff.
A McKinsey report published last year found that companies in the top quartile of gender diversity on executive teams were 25 per cent more likely to experience above-average profitability than peer companies.
Christine White, head of business at Diversity Mark, said: “We're delighted to have reached this landmark milestone representing 80,000 employees.
“It's our mission to platform issues around inclusivity in the workplace and create equal opportunities for all. It is well known that having a diverse workforce can unlock greater innovation within a company, driving its performance and success.
“We look forward to further progressing in 2022 and are delighted to work with organisations new and old throughout the UK and Ireland as they continue their exciting journeys towards greater diversity.”
