Government and business must use procurement to drive forward equality and diversity, according to Home Office Minister Fiona Mactaggart.
Speaking at the Promoting Diversity in the Workplace conference in Leeds, Mactaggart said that government and business needed to do more to contribute to diversity in the workplace by implementing procurement policies that gave opportunities to suppliers from the black and minority ethnic population.
In a recent interview with Personnel Today, the minister said improving diversity in the workplace meant creating a forum so bosses could listen to people from all parts of an organisation.
“One of the consequences is that people can talk to board level people to have their voice heard,” she said. “That’s quite a powerful thing.”
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During the recent Home Office Diversity Week, staff had the opportunity to attend sessions explaining best practice and the impact of government policies on minority and disabled staff, as well as the wider community.
