Welcome to our newsletter - June 2024

Welcome to the inaugural edition of the Business in the Community Scotland briefing. I am Louisa Macdonell, the Director for Scotland, leading a dynamic team of 16 talented colleagues right here in Scotland. Our team is diverse, covering areas from membership and advisory to project management, programmes, and communications.

At the core of our mission is collaboration. We believe in working closely with our members, partners, and leadership board to inspire everyone to be faster, braver, and bolder in adopting responsible business practices. Find out more in my latest blog.

There are many ways in which you can build a fairer and greener Scotland and maximise your business’ social impact. To find out more on how you can join our community please email [email protected]

Let's collaborate and make a difference together.

?? The Impact of Responsible Business: Real Stories?

?? In this edition we shine a spotlight on our member The WildHearts Group who we congratulate on achieving Carbon Neutral status.

Watch their short video below.

?Top Responsible Business resources for your organisation

Our free flexible working toolkit draws on research with our members, in collaboration with Phoenix Group. It identifies the benefits of flexible working and sets out practical actions employers can take to build inclusive flexible working cultures for all.

Our new Opening Doors toolkit helps reduce intersectional bias in recruitment. It features YouGov survey insights from jobseekers, highlighting key employer actions to support those from low socioeconomic backgrounds facing intersectional barriers in finding work.

Newly published in June 24 - our Insights on Race in Scotland factsheet is based on the latest Scottish Census data on ethnicity. This information can support organisations to set ethnicity targets, using the latest demographic data in Scotland, and inform employers of the talent pools available.

?? News & Views

Statement from BITC on the new First Minister of Scotland

Commenting on the election of John Swinney as Scotland’s First Minister,?Louisa Macdonell,?Scotland Director?at?Business in the Community (BITC), said:

“I would like to congratulate John Swinney on becoming the First Minister of Scotland.?As we look towards the future, I expect the First Minister and his colleagues?to work closely with businesses to deliver?the work needed to build a fairer and greener Scotland.?

“The big issues impacting business and society can only be tackled with collaborative action between business and?government.?I?look forward to working with the new First Minister to?work together on today’s challenges.”?

HR Magazine - Limited progress on racial inclusion targets - BITC’s Race Director Sandra Kerr, CBE has been quoted in a new article from HR magazine; “Data shows that one in five working-age adults in the UK come from a black, Asian, mixed race or other ethnically diverse background. It is the responsibility of businesses to ensure that the UK workforce is reflective of the wider UK working-age population at all levels, but unfortunately this is not the case, with only one in 10 people in senior positions coming from an ethnically diverse background. Employers should ensure that race-related DEI targets consider the make-up of the population locally and across their region, and are both ambitious and realistic, so that they are achievable."

Can you help/get involved?

Are you a leader in Scotland who influences procurement decisions or an employee who works with suppliers? We need your insights!

?? Our survey with YouGov focuses on diversity, equity and inclusion in supply chains. By sharing your experiences, you can help uncover opportunities to increase supplier diversity and drive positive change. Your voice matters - please take the survey today and shape the future of inclusive procurement.

?? Snapshot of recent events

It’s been a busy time for our team recently, with several high-profile events really highlighting the power of collaboration in our growing network.

On 29 May in Glasgow, our member Ovo hosted our Opening Doors What Works event, which was focused on creating more inclusive workplaces. We unveiled our latest research on inclusive recruitment, showcasing how employers can tap into the diverse talents of an inclusive workforce. Read the full story here.

Last week we held two engaging events focused on Race at Work, both hosted by our member Deloitte in Edinburgh. These events included an Employee Network Reception and a Leadership Roundtable.

Key discussions highlighted the crucial role of employee networks, the importance of senior sponsorship, insights from Scotland's census data, and practical steps businesses can take to boost diversity and inclusion. Learn more here.

Missed out? Don’t worry - check out our upcoming events below and explore our resources section for more info on inclusive recruitment and Scotland’s race insights! Plus don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter.

?? Dates for your diary

19 June, 8.30am -10.15am, BITC Place Glasgow Breakfast Meeting Hosted by Wheatley Group, Glasgow

A breakfast roundtable of BITC members, businesses and stakeholders who want to work together to deliver innovative social impact and help shape BITC’s Place work in Glasgow.

Open to both non-members and BITC members. Free event. If you are interested please email [email protected]

9 October, Breakfast Leadership Roundtable on Wellbeing

Further details will be announced shortly, if you would like to register an interest, please email [email protected]

Open to both non-members and BITC members. Free event.

5 November, Championing Responsible Business in Scotland hosted at Queen Elizabeth House, Edinburgh

?? All our members do incredible work within their organisations to improve social and environmental impact. This event will connect those senior leaders in Scotland to discuss how BITC members can create more impact together as a community.

BITC Member only event, to register an interest please email [email protected].

Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to future updates for a concise digest of what you need to know!

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