We have joined more than 600 employers in signing up to the Race at Work Charter, an initiative designed to improve outcomes for black, Asian and minority ethnic employees in the UK.

The council is the first local authority in Scotland to sign the charter.

Launched in partnership with the UK government in 2018, the Race at Work Charter builds on the work of the 2017 McGregor-Smith Review, which found that people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds were still underemployed, underpromoted and under-represented at senior levels.

Councillor Heather Brannan-McVey, Equalities Champion for North Lanarkshire Council, said: “We are the first local authority in Scotland to sign this charter and it underlines our commitment to creating an equal and inclusive North Lanarkshire.

“Our Black Lives Matter working group has achieved a great deal including work around the school curriculum and carrying out research to better understand the experiences of Black Asian and Minority Ethnic employees and residents.

“In addition we are working with COSLA to have an entirely anonymous job application process - the first Local Authority in Scotland to do so – to ensure that no unconscious bias exists.”

The Race at Work Charter is a public commitment to improving the experiences of black, Asian and minority ethnic employees in the workplace. It sets out seven actions for signatories like the council to take:

• Appointing an Executive Sponsor for race
• Capturing data and publicising progress
• Ensuring zero tolerance of harassment and bullying
• Making equality in the workplace the responsibility of all leaders and managers
• Taking action that supports ethnic minority career progression
• Support race inclusion allies in the workplace
• Include Black, Asian, Mixed Race and other ethnically diverse-led enterprise owners in supply chains.

Research carried out by Business in the Community (BITC) on the second anniversary of the landmark Race at Work Charter launch reveals:

This year, research carried out by Business in the Community (BITC) on the second anniversary of the landmark Race at Work Charter launch reveals:

• 76% of employers say that action on race recruitment and progression is a strategic priority but only 46% have set targets to improve the racial diversity of their boards.
• 99 per cent of employers have a clear zero-tolerance policy on racial harassment and bullying but only 38 per cent of employers have commissioned a review into bullying and harassment in the workplace – down from 45% in 2019.

Sandra Kerr CBE, race equality director at Business in the Community, said: “We would like to thank North Lanarkshire Council for setting out their commitment to being an inclusive and responsible employer. By signing up to the charter, they are showing that they aspire to have one of the most inclusive workplaces in the country. Together we can break down barriers in the workplace, raise the aspirations and achievements of talented individuals and deliver an enormous boost to the long-term economic position of the UK.”