Only one third of employees confident in workplace conversations about race, report finds
Only one third of employees confident in workplace conversations about race, report finds
Business in the Community (BITC) has today published its ‘Race at Work 2025 – Charter Reset One-Year On’ report,[2] revealing declining confidence in workplace conversations about race, class, social background, and religion and growing demand from young people for mentoring, sponsorship, and professional networks.
The research, conducted by YouGov, found that only a third of employees now believe that their organisation is comfortable discussing race, down from four in 10 in 2021.[3] More than half of employees said that their organisation has at least one senior leader or champion actively promoting equality and fairness, rising to six in 10 in large organisations.
In addition, the research found that while Black Londoners report strong levels of inclusion at work, significant barriers to progression remain. The survey found that:
The report also finds that only 35% of employers offer formal work experience opportunities and 42% have at least one apprenticeship programme. In addition, young people are more likely than other age groups to report witnessing or experiencing racist and sexual harassment, and are less likely to know how to raise concerns or report incidents. Young people and ethnically diverse employees are also calling for access to trusted mentors, senior sponsors, and professional connections to help them navigate their careers and progress at work.
The report also highlights the need for robust ethnicity data collection to support evidence-based action and measure progress, particularly ahead of upcoming reforms to ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting. In 2024, only just over half of employers captured ethnicity data.[4]
The report calls on employers to:
The report will be formally launched at the ‘Black History Month: Honouring our Communities and Driving Change’ event on 6 October, hosted in collaboration with the Greater London Authority and attended by the Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice, Debbie Weekes-Bernard. The Mayor has introduced a wide range of programmes designed to support those who are underrepresented in key employment areas. This includes his £147.2 million Inclusive Talent Strategy with London Councils to kickstart a skills revolution, an Inclusive Talent Brokerage to match employers to talented new employees, and the Workforce Integration Network, which has worked with large employers across London to address the barriers that prevent Londoners getting into good work. Research shows that supporting more Londoners from underrepresented groups in London’s labour market could bring 290,000 more Londoners into work and unlock £17.4 billion in economic benefit.[5]
Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard, Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice, said:
Sandra Kerr CBE, Race Equality Director at Business in the Community, said:
ENDS
Notes to editor
For further information, please contact Polly Dacam, Senior Public Affairs and Media Officer, on 020 7566 6638.
About Business in the Community
Business in the Community (BITC) champions responsible business as essential for long term economic growth and resilience.
It is the UK’s leading responsible business network, working with companies of all sizes to tackle society’s most pressing challenges from climate change and place-based community regeneration to inequality, workplace wellbeing, and inclusive growth.
Founded by His Majesty King Charles III in 1982, BITC has over four decades of experience in engaging business and delivering measurable impact in both business and in communities through evidence-based interventions.