Diversity in its broadest form is an essential part of building a more sustainable business – and of changing culture and rebuilding trust in capital markets.
Many barriers to diversity are based on assumptions of what clients want or need. We think that the Covid crisis provides the perfect opportunity to rethink what clients really want. The other side of this discussion is the fact that all financial services firms are effectively each other’s clients in some form. Can the industry […]
During this event we will discuss the findings of New Financial’s research, Accelerating Black Inclusion. The research aims to capture the experiences of Black people we are hearing right now with a particular focus on senior Black leaders across the UK finance sector. From these individual accounts, we will draw out themes to better understand […]
In collaboration with the London Women’s Forum, New Financial will be hosting a discussion on how the financial services industry is using diversity data to better understand the impacts of Covid. This event includes a presentation from Yasmine Chinwala, Partner at New Financial and Q&A with Sarah McKenzie, Head of Consumer Strategy and Policy at […]
During this event we will introduce our forthcoming thought paper on why there is a renewed focus on social mobility (or rather the lack of social mobility) in financial services – including the changing stakeholder context, getting to grips with data, the need for a wider business case, and greater objectivity in people decisions – […]
This event is aimed at the chairs of Black and/or ethnic minority networks. We will discuss the initial findings of our forthcoming research, Accelerating Black Inclusion.
The pandemic has led to a rethink of diversity data across multiple areas – including disability. At this session we will discuss what more granular self-reporting around the breath of what might be included under the umbrella of “disability” might look like, in order to help organisations more accurately identify where more positive action may […]
The Covid pandemic and the tragic killing of George Floyd in the US have catapulted Black inclusion up the D&I agenda and companies are under increasing pressure to play their part. The financial services industry is no exception. At this session, we will discuss Black inclusion from the perspective of (largely white) senior leadership raising […]
Recent events have renewed focus on gathering diversity data points that require self-reporting. We have heard repeatedly from members that a data refresh is a priority action point. At this event, we will hear from a couple of organisations (including Emma Holden, global head of HR at Schroders) that are in the throes of developing […]
At this event in collaboration with Refinitiv, we will launch our latest research looking at how the Covid crisis is catalysing a step change in diversity and inclusion across the financial services industry. We will present the highlights of our findings, followed by a high-level panel discussion with: David Craig, CEO, Refinitiv Birgit Neu, Global […]
Guest speakers Terecina KWONG, Chief Operating Officer, and Marina Tong, Head of Operations, at HSBC China will share their experience of the Covid crisis from the front line of the bank’s D&I response in China. We will discuss the challenges they have faced and overcome (and are still in the middle of) as well as […]
The industry will need to take a close look at what and how it delivers value to broader stakeholders, including employees and the communities in which they operate, adding weight to the existing direction of travel of government, regulators and shareholders towards increasing their focus on ESG, including D&I. This four part virtual event series […]
At this event, we will launch our latest research creating a Diversity Toolkit for Investors in collaboration with the 30% Club Investor Steering Group. The toolkit will be a succinct, practical guide focusing on best practice in what diversity questions asset owners and asset managers should be asking the companies in which they invest in […]
This thought paper series introduces why we believe radical action is necessary to drive a step change in diversity to reach a new equilibrium, and proposes actions that together will deliver improvement steadily and sustainably.
Social mobility is a top three diversity priority for the FCA. This breakfast is an opportunity to hear from Clare Cole, head of department – primary market oversight and FCA social mobility champion about why and how the regulator is approaching this diversity theme and what they have learned.
The financial services industry is all about numbers, yet few firms apply even a fraction of the analytic rigour to their people data compared to their product and market data. In this second event in ourRadical Actions series of ideas we think could radically shift diversity outcomes, we discuss our forthcoming thought paper on why […]
The HM Treasury Women in Finance Charter was launched in March 2016 and now has over 350 signatories covering 800,000 employees across the sector. Our latest report is based on a survey of 136 firms that have signed up and assesses the concrete impact the Charter is having on how they approach diversity, the benefits they are realising – and the challenges they face in meeting their Charter commitments.
The diversity and inclusion landscape has shifted significantly, with diversity and inclusion itself becoming a boom industry. However, this professionalisation of D&I has not (yet) translated into significant change across the financial services industry. We ask: why? And what needs to be done differently to drive improvement, and quickly? This is the first event in […]
Diversity and ESG are evolving from a ‘nice-to-have’ to a strategic imperative for business and finance. At this roundtable we will discuss our forthcoming thought paper looking at why, where and how diversity is following in the trajectory of ESG both as an investment theme and how it is integrated into how business is run […]
This report looks at why and how the most forward-looking asset owners (such as pension funds, insurers and sovereign wealth funds) are addressing diversity and inclusion. Their opinions count – as an essential source of capital for financial markets, the needs and actions of asset owners have a big impact on how the whole system […]
“True diversity in the workforce isn’t just about the people we employ, it’s about the way we employ them. . .” John Glen, Economic Secretary to the Treasury spoke at the Women in Finance Charter Annual Review launch event on 14th March 2019. You can read a the full speech below or download a PDF […]
Three years since the UK Government launched the HM Treasury Women in Finance Charter, it is having the desired impact – signatories are taking action to improve gender diversity and beginning to see positive results, according to New Financial’s latest research.
We are excited to be hosting Sam Friedman, an Associate Professor in Sociology at the London School of Economics, to talk about his latest research and new book demonstrating the existence of a powerful class pay gap, as well as exploring the complex barriers to career progression for those from less privileged backgrounds. https://www.classceiling.org/
Rolling out unconscious bias training is a top three (if not the top) action point according to our research on the Women in Finance Charter and Gender Pay Gap reporting. But how effective are unconscious bias training programmes? Recent reports from Harvard Business Review and Government Equalities Office reports questioning their impact. This breakfast is […]
Pay is the ultimate incentive for financial services. How are companies bringing diversity and culture criteria into how staff get paid? We know that the linking gender diversity targets to pay is the most controversial of the four principles of the HM Treasury Women in Finance Charter, so how are the mechanisms for incorporating these […]
Diversity is increasingly mentioned as a means to reduce or mitigate risk – risks such as access to potential talent; incremental competitive advantages in winning new business; minimising legal, cultural, behavioural and reputational risk; and applying cognitive diversity to improve financial performance and minimise financial risk. But what does that mean in practice? This breakfast […]
While culture and diversity have both moved up the agenda of the financial services industry, most firms treat them as distinct issues with discrete initiatives and separate reporting lines. Our analysis finds diversity and culture are closely interconnected and that a more holistic approach to both would yield better – and faster – results. Diversity and Culture analyses the differences and similarities in how companies approach diversity and culture and why it matters.
HM Treasury in collaboration with New Financial present the launch event of the second Annual Review of the HM Treasury Women in Finance Charter, hosted by the City of London Corporation. This is an opportunity to gain insight into the progress of Charter signatories, celebrate successes, discuss best practice around the principles of the Charter, […]
While culture and diversity have moved up the agenda of the financial services industry for similar reasons, most firms treat them as distinct issues with discrete initiatives and separate reporting lines. Our analysis finds diversity and culture are closely interconnected and that a more holistic approach to both would yield better – and faster – […]
The event will take place just as we reach crunch time in the 2nd round of reporting cycle and will focus on what has been learned from the first round of reporting, actions being taken to address the pay gap, as well as reflections on internal and external reactions to the report. This is an […]
There is broad consensus that diverse voices enhance investment performance by increasing diversity of thought, which improves decision-making and investment idea generation while guarding against groupthink. But the industry has a long road ahead to cultivate the diverse workforce that can bring all these benefits. This report identifies the practical barriers to diversity in portfolio management, analyses what individual firms are doing to address these challenges – and highlights how the industry can work together to accelerate change.