Firms urged to embrace diversity to improve business performance

Businesses in Scotland are being urged to embrace diversity to improve performance and productivity.

A new initiative, Equality Matters in Business (EMB), has been jointly set up by Scottish Enterprise (SE), Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and the Scottish Government to highlight the positive benefits of employing a diverse workforce and considering diversity in service delivery across all equality strands - gender, race, age, disability, religion and belief and sexual orientation.

A series of workshops is now underway across Scotland to provide advice for small and medium sized businesses. The next one is taking place in the Menzies Hotel, Washington Street, Glasgow, on 11 October 2007.

Scott Skinner, Equal Opportunities manager at SE, said: "To date much of the debate on diversity has focused on employment law and compliance, but we are anxious to emphasise that while that is important, there are other real benefits of embracing diversity issues which can make a positive difference to the way businesses work.

"For example, it can open up new market opportunities and deliver dramatic improvements in performance and productivity including the ability to target a wider choice of potential employees and along with that, a broader resource of skills and creativity."

The EMB programme will provide businesses through the Business Gateway with advice, training and support in adopting Equal Opportunity policies and procedures. A series of workshops is now underway which will run until early December. In addition to the general workshops, a short series of specialist briefings will be held on the legal obligations of companies in terms of employment and the provision of goods and services.

Free information and guidance on any aspect of implementing equality and diversity in the workplace is also available through the Business Gateway Enquiry Service on 0845 609 6611. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm.