What enables effective EDI implementation, monitoring, and assessment?

Case study - lessons from the British Council

In recent years, promoting equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the workplace has become an increasing priority for organisations, reflecting an improved understanding of the benefits of a diverse and inclusive workforce. However, despite many employers implementing initiatives, policies and strategies to improve organisational EDI, the effectiveness of such interventions in achieving their desired objective remains poorly understood, and sometimes they are even seen to offer poor value for money. As such, a better understanding of ‘what works’ in the context of EDI implementation, monitoring and evaluation is necessary.

The British Council offers a good organisational case study of factors that support developing an effective EDI program of work, given its decades-long commitment to and successful implementation of several EDI activities. Not only have they achieved their target on gender balanced representation, but they have also successfully embedded EDI action plans into national and global business strategy. Using document analysis and interviews with a cross-section of senior British Council stakeholders, this research, undertaken by IES, teases out key organisational factors crucial for the effective implementation and evaluation of EDI initiatives.

These organisational enablers are necessary for effectively embedding and sustaining EDI actions - taking a systems-wide approach to embedding EDI; senior leadership support and commitment; access to high-quality workforce data; organisational infrastructure, processes, and resources; and an organisational culture that genuinely values EDI.

The case study begins by briefly introducing the EDI context within the British Council before delving into each of the five organisational enablers that can equip EDI leaders and HR champions with the necessary evidence and tools for creating an ecosystem that sustains and strengthens equality, diversity and inclusion.