The RED Report | Not being racist is not enough
The North East Chamber of Commerce Commission on Race, Ethnicity and Discrimination in North East Businesses has released a report that urges businesses to take action to end racism and discrimination.
The report is the result of a two year consultation with business leaders, specialists, and policymakers across the North East and recommends 20 practical actions for businesses across four key areas: enhancing your business through addressing racism; workplace education and training; recruitment; retention, promotion and progression.
Prima Co-CEO Nagma Ebanks-Beni MBE and Chair of the Commission said “Some of this report makes for challenging reading. People from Black and minoritised ethnic communities across the North East continue to face racism and discrimination, and this spills over from everyday life into the workplace far too often.”
“In sharing this final report, the Commission urges business leaders across the North East to rise to the challenge of working to end racism and discrimination for good.”
Rhiannon Bearne, executive director of policy and deputy CEO at the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC), said: “Whatever the size of your business, your sector or your role, each one of us has a part to play in making the North East the most inclusive, diverse and equitable place it can be.”
At Prima, we take pride in the work we do to promote a level playing field for everyone, but this culture doesn’t happen by accident. It is baked into our company culture, policies, and ways of working. We review regularly to ensure we stay at the leading edge of businesses in the North East.
Nagma reminds us: “This is not simply a moral issue: it is a problem which is also holding back our businesses. There is powerful evidence to show that companies which embrace diversity perform better, and are better places to work, than those which do not.”
