DEI case study: IES supports The Guardian News and Media with a DEI strategy review

Published: 4th August 2026

Context

The Guardian News and Media Group is a global news organisation with a longstanding commitment to inclusion, editorial independence and social impact. As part of its ongoing people and culture agenda, the organisation wanted to take a fresh look at its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategy, ensuring it remained effective, credible and responsive to a rapidly evolving internal and external landscape.

The challenge

Senior leaders wanted to critically assess the organisation’s current approach and consider how its inclusion strategy could evolve to meet future needs. In particular, they were looking to:

Benchmark existing DEI activity against the latest evidence and emerging practice.
Explore ways to foster constructive dialogue and meaningful engagement across employee networks.
Examine the opportunities and challenges of moving beyond predominantly identity-based approaches towards a broader, organisation-wide model of inclusion.

Our approach

Working in partnership with our sister organisation, the Involvement and Participation Association (IPA), we combined strategic analysis with employee voice to provide a comprehensive assessment of the organisation’s approach to DEI.

Our researchers instigated the following actions:

Applied IES’s Policy-Process-Practice (PPP) diagnostic framework to evaluate progress and identify further opportunities for improvement on DEI.
Conducted in-depth ‘listening interviews’ with senior leaders and employee network representatives to understand lived experiences and gather diverse perspectives.
Reviewed the latest research and practical examples of effective DEI strategies to explore how organisations can build inclusive cultures and workplaces.

Impact

The combination of evidence, insight and stakeholder perspectives provided the organisation’s leadership with a strong foundation for reflecting on future priorities and refining its DEI strategy.

The work delivered:

A robust, evidence-based assessment of areas where DEI activity was having a positive impact, alongside clear opportunities for further development and investment.
A shared language and practical framework to support leadership decision-making and strengthen engagement around DEI.
Greater confidence among senior leaders to clarify strategic priorities and take forward the next phase of the organisation’s inclusion agenda.

Client feedback

“A team of approachable experts whose experience and knowledge of the DEI landscape helped provide fresh perspectives for our D&I business priorities and planning. We found the team took the time to understand and engage stakeholders, working collaboratively and providing pragmatic recommendations to futureproof our strategy. I am pleased we are continuing our relationship with the IPA team as trusted and critical partners on our inclusion and belonging work.”
Vinni Judge, Director of Learning, Development and Inclusion, The Guardian News & Media

Like to know more?

Download our DEI services brochure and if you would like to speak to one of our DEI specialists do please drop Dr Meenakshi Krishnan a line: [email protected]