Guidance

Ethnic minority employment bulletin: July 2020

Updated 1 December 2022

Welcome to our July Bulletin, intended to provide LEPs with up to date information, articles, research, case studies, as well as strategic and practical advice about all things Ethnic Minority Employment.

Please share with us any information on activities you are doing, case studies, or initiatives, around increasing ethnic minority employment. We would really like to hear about the great work you are doing. Get in touch by emailing us at [email protected].

Support for Jobs

On 8 July the Chancellor for the Exchequer announced the government’s Support for Jobs plan which will protect existing jobs and help create more. This is on top of the support package rolled out from March helping those who need it most during the pandemic. Read more about the Support for Jobs plan.

Ethnic minority groups disproportionately affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19)

This factsheet, COVID-19: ethnicity and economic impact, examines the impact of the pandemic on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people in the workplace. Looking at the pandemic through a race lens, the factsheet looks back at previous economic downturns, the current situation and shares guidance on the actions employers can take to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the ethnic minority workforce.

Sign the race at work charter

BITC’s Race at Work Charter provides a framework for employers to tackle barriers faced by people from ethnic minority backgrounds in recruitment and progression. It asks employers to publicly commit to 5 calls to action to ensure that Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic employees are represented at all levels and that their organisations are representative of British society today.

Sign today to join a network of almost 300 employers. BITC supports signatories with a wealth of free resources and materials including toolkits and factsheets, access to events and the opportunity to broaden your D&I network. Take a look at the Executive Sponsor Top Tips toolkit for a taster of this content. If you would like to learn more about the Race at Work Charter, please get in touch with Zahra Mohamoud or visit the BITC website.

DWP launches Labour Market Resilience campaign - Employer Help

A new Jobcentre Plus site has launched to offer you helpful advice about how to fill your critical vacancies, using the Find a Job service. There are also useful tips on how to ensure you do not diminish the response to your job ads by being too specific and help to make sure you recognise transferable skills. Find a Job can help you reach more than 1.8 million registered users and is free to use. Due to coronavirus (COVID-190, many of them have recent experience and skills from other sectors that could really benefit your business. It’s easy to register, post and manage your vacancies online.

Government unlocks £150 million from dormant accounts for coronavirus response

Of the £150 million, £10 million will be brought forward for the Youth Futures Foundation to help organisations who support unemployed, disadvantaged young people across the country into jobs. They have launched an Emergency Levelling Up Youth Fund to support young people from hardest hit communities and will expand their development and impact grants programme to rapidly increase youth employment provisions. Applications for the funding are open but close on 31 July, with awards being made in September.

Ethnic minority and employment in the media

BAME recruitment to “change the face” of West Midlands Police

Black business managers still underrepresented, says study

Lloyds to increase number of black staff in senior roles

We welcome any feedback on this bulletin and the best ways to communicate with LEPs and employers by emailing us at [email protected]