Whether it’s our universities, boardrooms or the halls of Westminster, we all know we can do better when it comes to diversity and social inclusion. So there’s no better time for the creation of the Social Inclusion Unit (SIU). Launched today by political engagement charity My Life My Say with support from Plexal and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, it will advise government, business and the third sector on delivering socially inclusive products and services.
One of the first projects will see Plexal teaming up with the SIU on a study into how tech businesses can be more socially inclusive as they grow. Together with market research company Opinium, the SIU will use quantitative and qualitative insights to track the progress of inclusion in key areas of the UK economy.
The launch comes on the back of a nationwide survey by Opinium, which found that a third of the UK thinks Brexit won’t deliver a fairer and more equal society. The research also found that the public considers social inclusion to be a responsibility for every type of organisation, be it a public sector body, private business or a not-for-profit. However, 38% think businesses are doing too little in this area.
Commenting on the study and launch of the SIU, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said:
“What’s clear after the divisiveness caused by Brexit is the need for a greater focus on inclusion, whether this in London or in towns and cities across the UK.”
Diversity, mobility and inclusion
Plexal’s support for the SIU was a no-brainer for us. Following on from our Plexiglass accelerator for women-led startups earlier this year and our signing up to the Tech Talent Charter, we’re commited to working towards a more inclusive, diverse tech sector. The best ideas never come from homogenous silos, and it’s important that the products and solutions shaping our lives reflect a broad cross-spectrum of society.
Commenting on our involvement, our managing director Andrew Roughan said:
“The simple fact is the tech sector is lacking diversity, which is a problem we need to work together to tackle, not least because numerous studies show that more diverse teams increase productivity and profit. Importantly, if tech companies can draw on a deeper pool of experience, the revolutionary ideas and products that come out of them will be better, and also help foster further inclusion.”
Watch this space as we share more insights, successes and research from the project.