Savills, the international real estate advisor, has announced its commitment to racial equality by signing the Race at Work Charter, a government initiative in partnership with Business in the Community (BITC), designed to improve outcomes for black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) employees in the UK.
The charter builds on the work of the 2017 McGregor-Smith Review, ‘Race in the workplace’, a wake-up call for UK employers, which found that people from BAME backgrounds were still underemployed, underpromoted and under-represented at senior levels.
The Race at Work Charter is designed to foster a public commitment to improving outcomes of BAME employees in the workplace. It consists of five principles to ensure organisations address the barriers to BAME recruitment and progression:
- Appointing an Executive Sponsor for race
- Capturing data and publicising progress
- Ensuring zero tolerance of harassment and bullying
- Making equality in the workplace the responsibility of all leaders and managers
- Taking action that supports ethnic minority career progression
Richard Rees, managing director at Savills, said: “Increasing the awareness around the issues faced by BAME employees is crucial to creating a workspace that is inclusive, diverse and fair. The Race at Work Charter is an excellent initiative and I’m delighted that Savills has added its name to the signatories list.”
Noel McGonigle, head of HR at Savills, comments: “Ensuring that BAME employees are well supported throughout their career at Savills is highly important and through making a commitment with the Race at Work Charter it places it at the top of the agenda, holding us accountable.”
Sandra Kerr CBE, race equality director at Business in the Community, adds: “We would like to thank Savills for setting out their commitment to being an inclusive and responsible employer. By signing up to the charter they are showing that they aspire to have one of the most inclusive workplaces in the country. Together we can break down barriers in the workplace, raise the aspirations and achievements of talented individuals, and deliver an enormous boost to the long-term economic position of the UK.”
