Benchmarking - 2012 - now open for submissions

How?

The new diversity benchmarks are now open and accepting submissions. Please register for access to the online survey platform by going to the following link:

Race and Gender Benchmark Survey 2012

Access is usually instant but sometimes requires manual approval. For any problems please call or email Tom Legge  Tel: 020 7566 8731

Please note:

Further guidance documents for Opportunity Now and Race for Opportunity members are available on the online survey platform. 

What?

Opportunity Now and Race for Opportunity run combined yearly benchmarks for member organisations. The next round of benchmarking is open now (Tuesday 15 May 2012). The process consists of two parts:
1)      The Impacts Survey - the submission of workforce metrics covering women, men and BAME employees.
2)      The Inputs Survey - the completion of one or both self-assessment exercises which look at policies, practices and initiatives which are of relevance to race and/or gender.
The deadline for submissions is Tuesday 24 July 2012.

Combined Race and Gender Benchmarking for 2012

Click the logo to view and listen to the Benchmarking Webinar  
18.39 minutes

Opportunity Now and Race for Opportunity run combined yearly benchmarks for member organisations. The next round of benchmarking is due to commence in May 2012. The process consists of two parts: 

1)      The Impacts Survey - the submission of workforce metrics covering women, men and BAME employees.

2)      The Inputs Survey - the completion of one or both self-assessment exercises which look at policies, practices and initiatives which are of relevance to race and/or gender.

Why?

There are two main outputs of participating in the benchmarks:  
Business Improvement
Organisations completing both parts of the race and gender benchmarks are provided with a report which details their performance relative to their peers based on the metrics they submit (the benchmark) and a further report exploring how their policies, practices and initiatives differ from their peers and also from what is considered ‘best-practice’ (the gap-analysis).  Participating organisations will be offered a chance to take-part in events held post-benchmarking which will allow them to share best practice and learn from one-another. This process will help organisations identify where they need to improve and will sign post to resources and examples of best-practice.

Recognition
In addition, participants will receive bandings and overall scores, which will be based on both the answers provided to the surveys and the data submitted to the workforce metrics section. The bandings are an sign of an organisation’s commitment to gender and race equality, a mark of the progress being made and an indication of the level at which they are operating at.

Opportunity Now and Race for Opportunity will publish a total of 4 separate unranked lists of the top 10 organisations, broken down in the following ways:
Top 10 private sector organisations completing the Opportunity Now benchmark.
Top 10 public sector organisations completing the Opportunity Now benchmark.
Top 10 private sector organisations completing the Race for Opportunity benchmark.
Top 10 public sector organisations completing the Race for Opportunity benchmark. 

The Top 10s will be determined from those organisations that complete both the Impacts and Inputs surveys for a given protected characteristic. Organisations who benchmark simultaneously across both protected characteristics will be eligible for inclusion in all relevant Top 10s.

Benchmarking for non-members
The overall benchmarking process is designed for members. However, non-members have the option to participate in just the workforce metrics part for free: submitting data covering the recruitment, progression and retention of women, men and ethnic minorities in their organisation.  Non-members who take part will be provided with a benchmark report which shows them the sector averages: this will not include an analysis of policies and practices and no banding or score will be provided. However, as a benchmarking exercise it will provide value by showing you where you stand based on real performance. This option is free to non-members.

It is possible to participate in the wider benchmarking process as a non-member but there will be a charge for this.

For further information on either of the options available to non-members and to register your interest please contact the Business in the Community Diversity Benchmarking Manager  Tom Legge