Black History Month: five resources for your organisation
October is Black History Month. To celebrate, we have brought together our top five resources to help your organisation promote racial equality in the workplace.
What is Black History Month?
Black History Month is celebrated annually in the UK during October. It is a time for recognition, reflection, and celebration of Black contributions to society, and helps to promote an understanding of black history and culture.
The theme for 2023 is ‘Saluting our Sisters’. This highlights the crucial role that black women have played in shaping history, inspiring change, and building communities.
Business in the Community’s work on race equality
Business in the Community (BITC) is committed to creating a more equitable workplace for ethnically diverse employees. We work with our network of private and public sector partners to offer tailored practical advice and share new insights to drive long-term change.
The Race at Work Charter
The Race at Work Charter asks businesses to make a public commitment to improving equality of opportunity in the workplace. It was created in response to the findings of the McGregor-Smith Review, which identified five calls to action. In 2021, the Charter was expanded to include allyship and inclusive supply chain commitments, meaning signatory organisations are now asked to make seven commitments.
Top five race resources
- The Race at Work Charter Survey 2023 report comprises of seven reports across the seven Race at Work Charter Commitments, with case studies and best practice examples from participating organisations.
- Black History Month: What do the data and insights tell you? In her recent blog, Sandra Kerr, BITC Race Director, calls for transparency when examining data by ethnic group and offers top tips for businesses wanting to examine their ethnicity data.
- Let’s Talk About Race: This toolkit provides a step-by-step guide for businesses on how to create a conversation around race in the workplace, including insights into the correct terminology to use.
- Regional Insights on Race: These factsheets provide insights into 12 diverse locations across the UK, including information on religion, languages spoken and the demographic breakdown of those in full-time education.
- CHEP Hosts Race Equality Panel for Employees: This case study showcases how CHEP, a global leader in sustainably moving goods, improved its ethnicity disclosure rate. Starting from zero, more than 100 employees have now disclosed their ethnicity data.
Forthcoming events
- Race, Gender and Wellbeing Champions Forum 21 November, 9:30 am (BITC members only)
- Race at Work Charter Surgery November 2023 30 November, 10:00 am (Open to all)
make race equality a priority
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Race At Work Charter asks businesses to make a public commitment to improving equality of opportunity in the workplace. In 2017 The government-sponsored Race in the Workplace: The McGregor-Smith Review found that Black, Asian, Mixed Race, and other ethnically diverse people staff still encounter significant disparities in employment and progression and that greater progress and positive outcomes are needed to ensure all organisations benefit from the wealth of diverse talent on offer.
No, the signing of the Race at Work Charter is open to all organisations irrespective of membership or size.
Signing the Race at Work Charter is free of charge.