Aviva Mini Conference | Diversity and Productivity

Diversity, Productivity, and Growth: Research Insights from DaPEW

On Tuesday, 8th April 2024, The Inclusion Initiative (TII), in collaboration with Aviva, hosted a research seminar in Bristol to showcase the latest findings from the Diversity and Productivity from Education to Work (DaPEW) project.

This event brought together researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals to explore how diversity impacts productivity and growth, and to foster dialogue around creating inclusive, high-performing workplaces.

A Day of Insightful Research and Discussion
The full-day seminar was structured around a series of research presentations, offering attendees the opportunity to engage with the latest evidence and participate in thought-provoking discussions.

Welcome Address
The day began with a welcome from Dr Grace Lordan, Director of The Inclusion Initiative, who set the stage by addressing a central question: “How can we get diverse teams working better together?”.

Research Highlights
The lived experiences of transgender and/or non-binary workers in UK workplaces

Presented by Dr Anne Theunissen
This session explored the unique challenges and opportunities faced by transgender and non-binary individuals in the workplace, shedding light on the importance of inclusive practices.
The persistence of childhood disadvantage

Presented by Dr Claire Crawford
This research examined how early-life socio-economic disadvantages continue to affect individuals' educational and career trajectories.

VOICE: A blueprint to make financial services more inclusive for colleagues from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

Closing Remarks
The seminar concluded with reflections from Dr Claire Crawford, summarising key takeaways and emphasising the importance of evidence-based strategies for fostering inclusive growth.
Engaging Dialogue and Collaboration
Throughout the day, attendees actively engaged with presenters, scrutinising methodologies, challenging assumptions, and contributing valuable perspectives. These interactive sessions not only enriched the discussions but also helped researchers refine their approaches for greater impact.

Thank You to Our Partners and Participants
We were delighted to welcome participants from academia, industry, and policy sectors. Our sincere thanks go to Aviva for hosting us, to all the presenters for their insightful contributions, and to our guests for their enthusiastic participation.

Presented by Nikita
An actionable framework was shared for improving inclusion in the financial services sector, focusing on employees from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Exploring disparities in promotion likelihood among professional workers by gender, ethnicity, and socio-economic background.

Presented by Dr Paul Martin
This study analysed promotion gaps in professional workplaces, offering evidence-based recommendations to reduce inequalities in career advancement.

To end the day, the DAPEW research team presented on alleviating constraints in the education pipeline moderated by Dr Claire Crawford. Challenging stereotypes in economics was presented by Professor Sarah Smith who highlighted the amazing work of Discover Economics. Finally, Nick Ridpath discussed the long-term impact of the Education Maintenance Allowance.

Get Involved
If your organisation is interested in contributing to this important research on Diversity and Productivity, we invite you to get in touch.
There is no cost or reputational risk to participate. Firms will gain valuable insights into fostering diverse, productive teams.

To participate in this exciting research on Diversity and Productivity, please get in touch here.