Business Case for Diversity : Case Studies

The following case studies highlight how the business case for diversity has developed at some of the UK's largest companies and public sector organisations.

Aviva

Aviva is the UK’s largest insurance group and the fifth largest in the world. It has over 58,000 employees worldwide, with 36,000 of those based in the UK.  This case study examines the business case for diversity and inclusion at Aviva and highlights its Think Again diversity campaign.

Derbyshire County Council 

The Council is headquartered in Matlock, Derbyshire and its administrative area includes the boroughs of Amber Valley, Chesterfield, High Peak and Erewash and the districts of Bolsover, Derbyshire Dales, North East Derbyshire and South Derbyshire.  The County lies in the centre of England, forming the north-west part of the East Midlands region supporting a population of around 745,500.  This case study  highlights the Council's business case drivers, goals and strategy, programmes and initiatives, benefits and future outlook.

Ernst & Young

The professional firm Ernst & Young has over 114,000 people in 140 countries.  The organisation offers a broad array of services relating to audit, risk-related services, tax, and transactions. 9,000 of its people are based in the UK.  This case study sets out the business case for diversity at professional firm Ernst & Young and highlights the importance of measuring business benefits.

Home Office

The Home Office is a central government department which is working to build a safe, just and tolerant society.  This case study sets out the business case for diversity at the Home Office, including the drivers, programmes/initiatives, goals and strategy, organizational benefits and the department's future plans.

ITV

ITV is the UK’s biggest commercial broadcaster and owns the largest commercial production company in the UK.  This case study highlights the business case for diversity and describes how the company embeds diversity into its business processes.

John Lewis Partnership 

John Lewis is a retailing Partnership of 65,000 employees, all of whom share in its profit.  This case study sets out the business case for diversity at John Lewis Partnership including drivers, programmes/initiatives, goals & strategy, business benefits and the company's future plans.

Kellogg Company in Europe

The Kellogg Company in Europe is committed to building an organisation that makes full use of the talent, skills, experience and different cultural perspectives available in the whole of society, and where people feel they are respected and valued and can achieve their potential.  This case study highlights the business case for diversity and the drivers for change in the organization.

Linklaters

Linklaters is a global law firm which specialises in advising the world’s leading companies, financial institutions and governments on their most challenging transactions and assignments.  This case study describes Linklaters' business case for diversity as well as its diversity programmes and the metrics used to assess business benefits.

Midland Heart

Midland Heart is a relatively new organisation created in April 2006 through the merger of Prime Focus and Keynote, specialising in providing a full spectrum of care services for people throughout the West Midlands.  This case study describes the business case for diversity at Midland Heart as well as its programmes and initiatives, monitoring processes and business benefits.

Procter & Gamble

Procter and Gamble Illustrate a sustainable business advantage by integrating diversity into everything they  do. Procter and Gamble ensure every individual feels included, valued and able to reach their full potential. This Case Study provides an excellent approach to the business case.

The Open University

The Open University is open to people, places, methods and ideas.  It promotes educational opportunity and social justice by providing high-quality university education to all who wish to realise their ambitions and fulfil their potential.  This case study  sets out the business case for diversity at the university.

Shell

Shell believe that oil and gas will be integral to the global energy needs for economic development for many decades to come.  Their role is to ensure  that they extract and deliver them profitably and in environmentally and socially responsible ways. As an established world leader, Shell sees a diverse staff and an inclusive work environment as vital to building relationships and trust – key ingredients to our continued success.This case study sets out the business case for diversity.

Transport for London (TfL) was formed in 2000 following the creation of the Greater London Authority to supervise the operation of London’s varied transport network, including 580km of major roads, the services of London Underground and London Buses through to the licensing of taxi cabs, the provision and maintenance of London’s cycle and walking routes, London’s River Services  to the introduction of congestion charging.  London’s residents, visitors and working population take almost 6,000,000 bus and 3,000,000 tube journeys daily.  This case study sets out the business case for diversity at Transport for London, including the drivers, initiatives to support women, goals and strategy, organizational benefits and TfL's future plans.

Unilever UK

Unilever is an Anglo-Dutch manufacturer of some of the most well known brands in the home/personal care and food sectors of the marketplace.  It is a "multi-local multi-national organisation" with a presence in 150 countries.  This case study describes the business case for diversity at Unilever UK as well as programmes and initiatives, goals and strategy and measurement of business benefits.