Firms Urged To Embrace Diversity To Improve Business Performance
22nd October 2007
Businesses in the Highlands and Islands are being urged to embrace diversity to improve performance and productivity.
A new initiative, Equality Matters in Business, (EMB) has been jointly set up by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Scottish Enterprise to highlight the positive benefits of employing a diverse workforce and considering diversity in service delivery across all equality strands - gender, race, age, disability, religion or belief and sexual orientation.
Liz Scott, equalities manager at HIE, said: "Much of the focus on diversity to date has been on employment law and compliance, but we recognise that there are other real benefits of embracing diversity which can make a positive difference to the way businesses work.
"Equality in business is about increasing market share and delivering improved performance and productivity, as well as recognising and building on the strengths that people from different backgrounds can bring to business."
The events are being organised in partnership with the Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI). SCDI Highlands and Islands area manager Gareth Williams said: "Businesses need to understand how new equalities legislation will affect them, and how they can better attract, retain and motivate their workforces as the labour market becomes ever more competitive. These events will do both, providing information on both the national and local pictures to help companies plan their future employment policies in support of continued business growth."
The EMB programme will raise business awareness and provide businesses with support in adopting equal opportunity policies and procedures. A series of workshops is now underway in Elgin and Inverness, with plans to hold events in other venues across the Highlands and Islands early next year.
In addition free information and guidance on any aspect of implementing equality and diversity in the workplace is also available to businesses through the Business Gateway Enquiry Service on 0845 609 6611. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9 am - 5 pm.
See Highlands and Islands enterprise web site at www.hie.co.uk
Related Businesses
Related Articles
Companies operating in Scotland's aquaculture supply chain industries are being encouraged to get involved in a major global networking opportunity. Aqua Nor is the world's premier event for the sector and a focal point for new customers and investors who are interested in Scotland.
The much-anticipated return of the funicular railway at Cairngorm Mountain will not take place in December, as had been hoped. Contractor Balfour Beatty has substantially completed an extensive remediation programme to strengthen the 1.8km viaduct, however detailed inspections have shown that further work is required in some areas.
A sand mining company in Lochaber is set to double its production and increase annual turnover by more than £2.6m. Lochaline Quartz Sand Limited (LQS) has secured up to £230,000 investment from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) towards the £855,000 costs of upgrading equipment on site.
The newly appointed head of business growth for Highlands and Island Enterprise (HIE) in Argyll and the Islands is to focus on expanding the agency's portfolio of business clients. Liam Orr, originally from Benderloch near Oban, took up the post in early December and leads HIE’s business growth team across an area covering Argyll and Bute, Arran and the Cumbraes.
An Aviemore-based adventure tourism operator has made significant progress in sustainability over the past two years by investing in e-bikes, e-vehicles and a carbon labelling system. Wilderness Scotland has reduced its scope 1 & 2 carbon emissions by 16 percent through its commitment to business decarbonisation.
The funicular railway at Cairngorm Mountain looks set to be back in action towards the end of December or early in the new year. Contractor Balfour Beatty has confirmed that, weather permitting, its current programme of remediation works on the viaduct that supports the railway is due to finish in the next week to 10 days, after which teams working for the company plan to demobilise from the mountainside.
Fetcha Chocolates is investing in new equipment to quadruple its capacity, increase turnover and create employment. An Argyll based chocolate manufacturer is investing in new equipment to quadruple its capacity, increase turnover and create employment.
Is your young business ready for the next step?. The Young Business Capital Grant helps young businesses and social enterprises (under 5 years old) invest in projects that stimulate growth.
Shell-volution is an ambitious industry-wide initiative supported by the public sector and the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) which has been awarded £4.4 million of investment from the UK Government as part of the Islands Growth Deal. This innovative, ground-breaking project is set to transform shellfish aquaculture, bringing sustainable growth and additional quality jobs in mussel farming, based on detailed investigations (mapping and monitoring) and creating a model for improving security and reliability of wild spat recruitment, through industry best practice.
A Nairn-based foundry, which has achieved international recognition for its larger-than-life bronze castings has invested in a £200,000 expansion to help it reach greater heights. An award of £60,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has helped Black Isle Bronze to improve infrastructure and purchase equipment to extend the range of projects the firm can undertake.
