City looks to improve diversity across the digital sector
Leeds City Council has committed to a new project that is aiming to improve racial diversity across the digital sector.
The project will build a better understanding of the landscape for people of colour, who are currently working or looking to work in the Leeds’s thriving digital and tech sector with a view to galvanising the city into collective action.
The project is being conducted in partnership by WILD Digital, Diverse and Equal and the city council and launched with a survey starting yesterday.
With the organisers stating that “uncovering the lived realities of people of colour across the city’s digital and tech sector is crucial to understanding the scope of the problem and for allowing the setting of considered objectives to create real and impactful change”.
The aim of the project is that be ensuring a full spectrum of diversity and inclusion within the sector, there will be a wide range of benefits for the city, allowing Leeds to unlock the true potential of the sector and ensure inclusive workspaces across its economy, and this is backed by recent research from McKinsey showed a 35% increase in profit for organisations that are ethnically diverse and inclusive.
The project represents a significant commitment from leading organisations within the digital and tech sector across the city, with key partners including BJSS, Bruntwood, Crisp, Nexus, SciTech, Sky Betting and Gaming and TPP.
Sarah Tulip
Sarah Tulip, co-founder of WILD Digital, head of digital transformation BJSS, said: “The last 12 months has brought to the forefront that we need to talk about race, especially in the digital sector, where we are often setting the pace for innovation.
“Conversations about race are happening and we are starting to see change in pockets, but it is a topic that still often makes people uncomfortable and worry about “getting it right”. This project led by WILD Digital aims to try and make this conversation clear and accessible for everyone. It is an opportunity for the Leeds Digital Sector to show our passion and commitment to equality and to lead in our listening and set objectives to create a fairer and more inclusive space for all.”
Annette Joseph, founder, Diverse and Equal, said: “We’re excited to be leading this work on behalf of WILD for the city of Leeds. Innovation from tech touches every part of our lives — from how we communicate to how we shop, and everything in between. This research demonstrates the city’s commitment to equality. The insights will feed into Leeds becoming a diverse, innovative and productive centre of tech excellence for the future.”
Councillor Jonathan Pryor, deputy leader and Leeds City Council executive board member for Economy, Culture and Education, said: “This project is crucial to helping uncover the lived realities of people of colour in the digital and tech sector across Leeds and will allow the sector to identify the necessary actions to create a diverse workforce truly reflective of our city. It is really pleasing to see so many companies across Leeds buy into this really important work and contribute to the necessary change.”
To take part in the survey and help deliver an inclusive and diverse Digital and Tech sit or for more information about the project visit wild-digital.tech/about.
