{"id":45347,"date":"2021-02-08T15:54:08","date_gmt":"2021-02-08T14:54:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cm-edgetun.pages.dev\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/?p=45347"},"modified":"2025-05-14T16:16:02","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T15:16:02","slug":"how-a-diverse-workforce-can-drive-a-culture-of-innovation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cm-edgetun.pages.dev\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/cross-industry\/2021\/02\/08\/how-a-diverse-workforce-can-drive-a-culture-of-innovation\/","title":{"rendered":"How a diverse workforce can drive a culture of innovation"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>2020 was one of the most challenging years for business and individuals across the world. Nothing can undo the difficulties we have all faced. However, struggle inevitably also leads to innovation. As we settle into the new year, there is an urgent need for British businesses and governments to capitalise on what we have learned and to harness the innovation of the last 12 months. It\u2019s time to not just \u2018return to normal\u2019. It\u2019s time to build a better, more diverse and resilient world.<\/p>\n<p>A recent study from Microsoft and the University of London assesses UK business competitiveness. The results suggest that innovation will be vital to enable the UK to better compete on a global stage.<\/p>\n<p>[msce_cta layout=&#8221;image_center&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221; linktype=&#8221;blue&#8221; imageurl=&#8221;https:\/\/cm-edgetun.pages.dev\/en-gb\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2019\/05\/CLO18_theGherkin_001.jpg&#8221; linkurl=&#8221;https:\/\/cm-edgetun.pages.dev\/en-gb\/business\/uk-recovery\/&#8221; linkscreenreadertext=&#8221;Download the report&#8221; linktext=&#8221;Download the report&#8221; imageid=&#8221;10920&#8243; ][\/msce_cta]<\/p>\n<p>I believe one of the biggest innovations from this year could have the greatest potential to transform the way we all live and work and propel British businesses forward. This is remote and flexible working.<\/p>\n<h2>Use flexible working practices to drive innovation<\/h2>\n<p>The Tech Talent Charter has, since its inception, championed working practices that drive inclusion. In building a robust and representative tech workforce, we need to offer more equitable opportunities. UK tech suffers from a skills shortage and many companies are actively seeking staff with tech skills. Yet despite this, the tech industry in particular lags when it comes to diversity of all kinds.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/cm-edgetun.pages.dev\/en-us\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2021\/02\/Infographic-01.gif\" alt=\"Gif showing 45% of UK orgs are seeking tech skills, 70% of young woman are interesting in tech careers, but only 17% are in tech roles\" width=\"886\" height=\"526\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Many women say they are interested in a career in technology \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fawcettsociety.org.uk\/perceptions-and-barriers-to-women-entering-tech-hp-and-fawcett-society-roundtable-on-women-in-tech\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fawcett Society research in 2019<\/a> found that around 70 percent of young women would be interested, and 45 percent of working age women are willing to retrain for a technical role. However, female participation in tech hovers at around 17 percent, while other diversity measures tend to score even lower.<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cm-edgetun.pages.dev\/en-us\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2021\/02\/Infographic-03_v2.gif\" alt=\"null\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Part-time, flexible hours, or flexible working locations have long been recognised as key to attracting women to the tech workforce. Women tend to have more domestic responsibilities than men \u2013 a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ons.gov.uk\/employmentandlabourmarket\/peopleinwork\/earningsandworkinghours\/articles\/womenshouldertheresponsibilityofunpaidwork\/2016-11-10\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2016 ONS survey<\/a> found women shoulder 60 percent of \u2018unpaid work\u2019. This can mean a 9-5 office-based role can be impractical. By failing to offer flexible or remote working, women often feel they cannot align their career ambitions with the demands of the rest of their lives.<\/p>\n<p>These are women who would otherwise return to the workplace with their many talents and experiences. They also bring that added dimension that drives innovation &#8211; diversity. This wasted talent is a significant loss to a business\u2019s ability to compete and innovate.<\/p>\n<h2>The hybrid workplace<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium webp-format alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/cm-edgetun.pages.dev\/en-us\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2021\/01\/WIN20_PRO_RemoteWorking_014-300x225.webp\" alt=\"A woman sitting in a home office. She is talking on Micrsoft Teams on her laptop, with two screens behind showing an Excel sheet, and Power BI screen.\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" data-orig-srcset=\"https:\/\/cm-edgetun.pages.dev\/en-us\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2021\/01\/WIN20_PRO_RemoteWorking_014-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/cm-edgetun.pages.dev\/en-us\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2021\/01\/WIN20_PRO_RemoteWorking_014-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/cm-edgetun.pages.dev\/en-us\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2021\/01\/WIN20_PRO_RemoteWorking_014-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/cm-edgetun.pages.dev\/en-us\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2021\/01\/WIN20_PRO_RemoteWorking_014-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/cm-edgetun.pages.dev\/en-us\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2021\/01\/WIN20_PRO_RemoteWorking_014-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/cm-edgetun.pages.dev\/en-us\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2021\/01\/WIN20_PRO_RemoteWorking_014-330x248.jpeg 330w, https:\/\/cm-edgetun.pages.dev\/en-us\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2021\/01\/WIN20_PRO_RemoteWorking_014-800x600.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/cm-edgetun.pages.dev\/en-us\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2021\/01\/WIN20_PRO_RemoteWorking_014-400x300.jpeg 400w\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/cm-edgetun.pages.dev\/en-us\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2021\/01\/WIN20_PRO_RemoteWorking_014-300x225.jpeg\" \/>Until now, many companies have been reluctant to embrace remote and flexible working models. These decisions are often clouded by stereotypes or an outdated understanding of their employees\u2019 expectations. Some have just been hesitant to innovate and embark on a major disruption to their working model.<\/p>\n<p>2020 caused this to change.<\/p>\n<p>Thousands of companies have had to enact a live trial of remote and flexible working, unplanned for, untested but utterly essential for their business continuity.<\/p>\n<p>Even the most sceptical employer has learned that remote working not only works. They&#8217;ve discovered it is a vital part of their ability to competitively attract and retain the best talent. <a href=\"https:\/\/cm-edgetun.pages.dev\/en-us\/microsoft-365\/work-productivity-trends-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Microsoft\u2019s research<\/a> confirms this with 83 percent of UK managers revealing they expect to have more flexible and work from home policies moving forwards.<\/p>\n<p>This shift holds immense potential for inclusion and diversity. Mounting research has demonstrated the impact of diversity on creativity and innovation (the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.weforum.org\/agenda\/2019\/04\/business-case-for-diversity-in-the-workplace\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">World Economic Forum calls the business case for diversity \u2018overwhelming\u2019<\/a>), and the UK\u2019s economic growth will depend upon its ability to innovate and compete on a global stage.<\/p>\n<h2>Empowering employees<\/h2>\n<p>Remote working is not without its challenges. But what we have seen is that is it possible to do many more jobs remotely than was previously thought. Also, productivity tends to increase and not decrease. What\u2019s more, employees have rapidly come around to the many advantages of being able to be based where they choose and not have to commute. It is not just women who stand to benefit from this new working set up.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/timewise.co.uk\/article\/press-release-busting-mum-myth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Research from Timewise in 2018<\/a> shows that while 91 percent of women want flexibility, so do 84 percent of men, 92 percent of 18\u201334 year-olds and 88 percent of 35-54 year-olds. This is a wake-up call and a significant opportunity for the industry.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/cm-edgetun.pages.dev\/en-us\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2021\/02\/Infographic-02.gif\" alt=\"People wanting flexible working: 84% of male full-time workers, 91% of female full-time workers, 92% of 18-34 year-olds, 88% of 35-54 year-olds.\" width=\"887\" height=\"540\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Companies who adapt to these new rules of play have the potential to recruit the best talent, regardless of location or even available working hours. This is a win-win situation. It&#8217;s something that will prove fundamental to the UK tech industry\u2019s ability to address the skills gap and compete on a global stage.<\/p>\n<h2>Building competitiveness and innovation<\/h2>\n<p>This competitiveness is currently not a given. <a href=\"https:\/\/cm-edgetun.pages.dev\/en-gb\/business\/uk-recovery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Microsoft and University of London research<\/a> shows that 46 percent of UK firms fall into the least competitive quadrant of competitiveness. Clearly, we are facing a skills gap, and UK businesses need to eliminate barriers to finding talent.<\/p>\n<p>The UK must reinvent itself. If we could show we retain our competitiveness in terms of innovation, talent and technology. We need to start to offer a new definition of what work is, where and when it happens. Then, we can begin to redefine our productivity as a nation.<\/p>\n<p>And that can drive competitiveness and economic recovery \u2013 with a potential cumulative economic boost of \u00a348.2 billion. Doing the right thing is no longer just the right thing, it is the smart business thing. Embracing the benefits of remote work to find and retain the best, most diverse talent pool will make a positive impact on the bottom line. It will also benefit the economic recovery of the whole country.<\/p>\n<p>There has never been a more important time for the UK to take action.<\/p>\n<h2>Find out more<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cm-edgetun.pages.dev\/en-gb\/business\/uk-recovery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Download the economic recovery report<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cm-edgetun.pages.dev\/en-gb\/business\/reimagine\/new-world-of-work\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Start building the new world of work<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/info.microsoft.com\/UK-DIGTRNS-CNTNT-FY21-11Nov-26-Embracingthenewworldofwork-AID-3022957-SRGCM4064_01Registration-ForminBody.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Empower employees to drive innovation<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Resources for your development team<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cm-edgetun.pages.dev\/en-gb\/business\/innovation\/\">Build an innovation roadmap with our Envisioning workshops\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>About the author<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail webp-format alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/cm-edgetun.pages.dev\/en-us\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2021\/01\/DF-TTC-CEO-headshot-150x150.webp\" alt=\"Debbie Foster, a woman wearing a blue shirt and silver necklace with dark blonde shoulder-length hair and a fringe looks at the camera and smiles. The background is dark purple.\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/cm-edgetun.pages.dev\/en-us\/industry\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2021\/01\/DF-TTC-CEO-headshot-150x150.jpg\" \/>Debbie Forster is an award-winning leader and a recognised figure in the areas of diversity, tech, innovation and education and was named by Computer Weekly as the Most Influential Woman in UK IT for 2019. She is co-founder and CEO for the Tech Talent Charter, an industry collective which aims to deliver greater inclusion and diversity in the UK tech workforce. As part of her wider portfolio, Debbie works as an executive coach and a consultant. She specialises in supporting start-ups, scale ups, SMEs and social enterprises. Debbie was awarded an MBE in January 2017 for \u2018Services to Digital Technology and Tech Development\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) named Debbie Woman of the Year for 2016. Her work for the TTC was recognised by Women in IT awards 2018 for Diversity Initiative of the Year. She was awarded Women in IT Awards Diversity Leader of the Year 2019. Computer Weekly also named her Most Influential Woman in UK IT for 2019.<\/p>\n<p>After 20 years working within education, Debbie joined e-skills UK, the national IT Sector Skills Council. There, she heads up their educational programmes, liaising with both policy makers and leaders in the IT industry. Debbie then became the Co-CEO of Apps for Good, an award-winning education charity. Debbie joined Apps for Good in 2010 and took the organisation through a period of exponential growth, from two centres in London to almost 1000 schools around the world; reaching 75,000 young people in just five years, with 50 percent of its students and 40 percent of its tech mentors being female.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover how to build a better, more diverse and resilient workplace to drive innovation with remote and flexible working.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":585,"featured_media":46859,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"_classifai_error":"","_classifai_text_to_speech_error":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"post_tag":[160,256,373,394],"content-type":[],"coauthors":[1616],"class_list":["post-45347","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cross-industry","tag-blogger-series","tag-culture","tag-diversity-and-inclusion","tag-women-in-tech","review-flag-perce-1706200045-699"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - 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