Momentum continues to build around Change the Race Ratio – a campaign aimed at increasing racial and ethnic participation in business – with a total of 100 firms now signed up since the campaign launched on 1 October 2020.

Latest campaign signatories include BAE Systems, Bolton Associates, Britvic, First Group, Mace Group, Miles Advisory, Paysafe and Sage.

Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE DL, CBI President, said: “We can and must vastly improve racial and ethnic diversity in business. Not only is it a vital step towards giving more people the chance to succeed and making society more inclusive; the business case is also crystal clear. Diverse companies perform better on every metric.

“I’m incredibly proud to reach the milestone of 100 companies signed-up to our campaign commitments. We have been overwhelmed with interest since Change the Race Ratio launched.

“All firms have a role to play in shifting the dial on diversity in business and that’s ensuring talent from all walks of life can thrive in the workplace.”

Charles Woodburn, BAE Systems Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are very proud to support the Change the Race Ratio campaign in helping to bring greater ethnic diversity to British businesses.  We believe that developing an inclusive, diverse workplace where everyone contributes their unique experiences and insights will help drive innovation and future success for business.”

As signatories of Change the Race Ratio, companies make the following four Commitments to Change:

1. Increase racial and ethnic diversity among Board members. Take action to set targets, aligned to Parker Review, achieving:

• FTSE 100 – At least one racially or ethnically diverse Board member by end 2021.
• FTSE 250 – At least one racially or ethnically diverse Board member by 2024.

2. Increase racial and ethnic diversity in senior leadership

• Take action at ExCo and ExCo minus one to set clear and stretching targets and publish them within 12 months of making this commitment.
• In addition, aim to establish a separate target for black participation at both levels.

3. Be transparent on actions

• Publish a clear action plan to achieve the targets and share progress in the Annual Report or on the company website.
• In addition, disclose ethnicity pay gaps within 2 years of joining. 

4. Create an inclusive culture in which talent from all diversities can thrive

• Focusing on recruitment and talent development processes to drive a more diverse pipeline; data collection and analysis; fostering safe, open and transparent dialogue with mentoring, support and sponsorship; and working with a more diverse set of suppliers and partners, including minority owned businesses.

Are you a business interested in finding out more or wanting to become a signatory? Check out the Change the Race Ratio website.

New Change the Race Ratio signatories include BAE Systems, Bolton Associates, Britvic, First Group, Mace Group, Miles Advisory, Paysafe and Sage.

The full list can be found here.

The post Change The Race Ratio signs up 100th signatory first appeared on ESG Foundation.

The post Change The Race Ratio signs up 100th signatory appeared first on ESG Foundation.

Project Wild Gambia is a conservation organisation made up of a small, close-knit team of passionate British and Gambian conservationists. Over the past 20 years, they have contributed to the conservation and recovery of some of the world’s rarest species through the highest standard of scientific research and data collection. The work they and participants from university field courses, conservation expeditions and student placements achieve is published in scientific journals.

Sarah says, “I was excited to be invited to contribute to pioneering marine research and conservation by the Project Wild Gambia team, and to help coordinate marine research field trips to The Gambia that also support the local communities. These trips focus on researching the Atlantic humpback dolphin, elasmobranchs and turtles, but with opportunities to see and participate in the research of many other species including West African manatee, Mediterranean monk seal, primates, reptiles, amphibians, birds and more. Most recently we have teamed up with the two turtle groups in The Gambia to join the biggest conservation initiative to help turtles in The Gambia – ever!”

They maintain strong relationships by working with The Gambia’s governmental conservation bodies such as The Department of Parks and Wildlife Management (DPWM) and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s) including The Gunjur Project and The West African Bird Society Association (WABSA) as well as local communities; to conduct world-renowned research. The data collected is sent to the appropriate government bodies allowing them to make informed conservation policies. 

The charity prides itself in allowing individuals to gain real-life, hands-on conservation experience with leading professionals, where they can live and breathe the social, economic, physical and emotional challenges that conservationists encounter. 

As a by-product of its eco-tourism, it supports locals people and economy of The Gambia. Through its field courses and expeditions, they have bought over 10,000 bed nights, which equates to more than 550 years of the average wage in accommodation costs alone. They spend twice as much on local drivers’ wages, guide fees, park admissions, and are committed to supporting local-owned businesses. 

Throughout the pandemic, conservationists and drivers have really suffered from the close-down of tourism and there’s no safety net in The Gambia. They are the eyes and ears of conservation in-country and need support during these difficult times. The charity continued to financially support its Gambian team and previously created a fundraiser to continue to help to do so. All extra funds have gone towards establishing our new Bush baby reserve (the first in West Africa) and an ongoing tree nursery. 

They are aware that tourism has some negative aspects, the most important of these being the carbon dioxide generated by the flights that bring people to The Gambia. This contributes to climate change – the most significant threat ever to face humankind and the biggest threat facing the environment today. Therefore, thy make all of our trips carbon-neutral by planting trees that will capture the equivalent mass of carbon generated by every flight – guests and staff alike. Over the next 10 years, Project Wild Gambia aims to plant 10,000 trees in The Gambia. This will include trees in existing forests to increase their stability as well as new areas where we will kick start new forests throughout the country.

The animals they work on are amongst the rarest and most endangered species on the planet. They include one of the world’s rarest dolphins, one of the world’s most endangered monkeys, several critically endangered rays and sharks, five species of critically endangered vultures, a crocodile that was thought to be extinct in The Gambia until they rediscovered it, and a stingray that had only ever been seen once before on the planet, in 1870.  Although their research is clearly important and our priority, they also make sure that all of our participants have fun, leading to an unmatchable experience that helps to save some of the world’s rarest animals and support some of the world’s poorest people.

If you are interested in finding out more or participating in a marine expedition then please join Sarah’s Facebook group for further details here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/249272459941798/. (Marine Conservation in The Gambia)

Or alternatively you can email the Project Wild Gambia team at admin@projectwildgambia.com

The post ESG Foundation Special Adviser joins Project Wild Gambia first appeared on ESG Foundation.

The post ESG Foundation Special Adviser joins Project Wild Gambia appeared first on ESG Foundation.