North West Business Leadership Team backs diversity in pushback at war on woke

The North West Business Leadership Team has embarked on a campaign to support diversity, equity and inclusion, in defiance of efforts by the Trump administration in the US to eradicate such initiatives by business as part of a ‘war on woke’. 

The membership organisation, which includes some of the biggest companies in the region, is sending out commitments from members saying they champion initiatives that create not only a more diverse workforce, but “a more productive economy for our region and ultimately, our country.”

Current projects include the NWBLT’s own programmes; the Rising Stars and Diversity Drivers – supporting the next generation of leaders within the region.

Emma Degg, CEO, North West Business Leadership Team told TheBusinessDesk.com: “In 2018 we made a promise that we would do all we could to support the brilliant talent that exists in businesses and communities across our region.  The best person should always get the job – that is what our economy needs – that is why we have restated our commitment to long term change that will benefit everybody.”

One notable signatory to the commitment is NWBLT board member Andrew Finlayson from global consulting firm Accenture.

In the US Accenture has been forced to row back on such commitments and has been threatened with losing business by the US government. 

Its global CEO Julie Sweet scrapped a DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) hiring strategy and ended career development programmes for “people of specific demographic groups.”

The local move by business leaders including the CEOs of Nichols, Manchester Airport, NatWest, Lloyds, Assura, senior partners of professional firms and leaders of several universities, amongst others, follows a barnstorming new year message at the start of 2025 by NWBLT vice-president Juergen Maier where he urged leaders to stand up for progressive and inclusive values.

Industrialist Maier, the former CEO of Siemens UK, urged business leaders not to shirk from a positive and progressive business agenda that can address the climate crisis and stand up for under-represented groups.

He said he had encountered business leaders who were keeping their heads down as a toxic pushback against “woke” values gains momentum.

He said: “We must stick to our values, take the high ground, and improve our ability to demonstrate and communicate the worth of those values that we deliver as the business community.”

He said populist forces have turned their attention from Brexit and immigration, to ESG and climate action, and are simplistically labelling progressive business leaders as “woke.”

“Their rhetoric often includes toxic, racist, misogynistic, and anti-LGBT undertones,” he said.