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10 Reasons Why Inclusivity Needs To Be Part of Your Diversity Strategy

The technology industry still struggles with diversity and inclusion. Most companies often fail to attract diverse talent due to inclusivity issues within the workplace. For businesses looking to sharpen their diversity and inclusion programs, the change can seem rather daunting. According to EY, companies in the top quartile for racial and ethnic diversity are 35% more likely to have higher financial returns than their industry peers. Additionally, companies in the top quartile for gender diversity are also 15% more likely to perform better financially than their peers. So, it seems simple – diversity and inclusion drive business revenue and profits. However, it seems we often neglect the ‘I’ in the D&I conversation. The challenge is in having a culture where all employees feel included. It’s a huge investment in time and money to bring talent into your organisation, so why bring them in if they’re not happy when they get there? You’ve got to get the inclusion part right. To make employees feel more included, appreciated and safe in the workplace, initiatives must be targeted to achieve specific results - inclusive workplaces attract and retain the best talent. Nowadays, top talent see their workplace as an extension of their lifestyle; if their core values are not reflected in those of the company, it is unlikely that your employees will thrive in your business. 1. What are your diversity goals? There are multiple considerations that need to be made when building a diversity strategy, but the first is understanding your end goals. Studies have shown that organisations building strategies that focus on one group, often alienate that same group. For example, it has been highlighted that programmes focused on increasing the number of women in IT, can have a positive and negative impact as it is perceived that not enough is being done to hone in addressing other diversity issues; including, racial profile, sexual orientation or disability. The case for diversity must also be a holistic one, taking into account the benefits of diversity for organisations (such as enhanced employer brand, contribution to society, and corporate reputation) alongside the benefits for individuals at work. 2. Where does inclusivity fit in to your hiring strategy? Diversity strategies and goals are a substantial consideration for all growth businesses, however a lack of understanding of the local talent pools and the impact on corporate culture creates greater problems for those whose sole focus is diversity. Studies have shown that too often, leaders focus diversity and inclusion efforts disproportionately leading to a forward thinking talent attraction programme and a lesser focus on retention and championing the vision that attracted the talent in the first instance. To retain and nurture top talent, it’s critical to take an honest look at the end-to-end employee experience, with an eye toward creating conditions that promote inclusion on a daily basis and designing ways to measure the impact. Inclusion strategies are a great way to understand the impact on current employees who are not a target focus when driving diversity; different groups may feel disadvantaged due to diversity, not ability. Whilst building diversity and inclusivity programmes, retaining ALL talent in competitive markets is vital. 3. Use inclusive language First impressions count and anyone applying for a job online through social media or a corporate website will build a picture of your culture and determine the fit before deciding whether to apply. Therefore, it is vital that your company literature is appealing to the audience that you are aiming to appeal to. Social media company, Buffer, challenged their use of language used in computer programmer job descriptions as only 2% of applicants were female. This improved after a review of their job descriptions and job advertisements determined that there was unconscious usage of gendered wording. 4. Look beyond culture fit Most employers seek to hire employees based on culture fit. Whilst it’s understandable that companies should wish to hire people who will fit in, it can lead to a homogeneous workforce. Instead, employers should hire for culture add – targeting candidates that bring something unique to the company culture that doesn’t currently exist. Cast your recruitment net wider to include people from underrepresented groups. Reach out to professional hiring organisations, attend conferences and networking events that cater to a diverse crowd. 5. Build a Mentoring Community Every great community need mentors. Mentors voice concerns and overcome challenges for their community members. Communities can vary from race, gender, age, sexuality, religion and even remote workers - it's important that everyone feels respected and included in the same way. These mentors should take the time to learn about different cultures, races, religions, needs and backgrounds represented by their colleagues. 6. Acknowledge holidays of all cultures One way to build awareness of diversity and foster greater inclusivity is to be aware of, and acknowledge, a variety of upcoming religious and cultural holidays. Your employees may be at work, but this matters to them on a personal level. Use your company’s internal communications to help employees be more aware of, and keep track of, multicultural religious or holiday celebrations. Be respectful of these days when scheduling meetings and understand that employees may have different needs and therefore require flexibility. 7. A top-down approach isn’t enough Top-down approaches drive compliance, not commitment. From senior leaders to frontline employees, every individual must see and understand their role in company culture. This means identifying differences in employee experiences and values across the organisation, so that change can be made relevant for each person and knowing that lasting change must activate different parts of the system. 8. Inclusion is ongoing — not one-off training It isn’t enough to just teach employees what it means to be inclusive. Like any form of behaviour change, inclusion requires individuals to identify key moments in which to build new habits or “microbehaviors” (daily actions that can be practiced and measured). When these habits are put into action in an environment that supports honest conversations and healthy tension, real change becomes possible. One way to do this is to identify change cohorts within the organisation outside of the executive or management level. By equipping employees with the skills and information, you help them champion change within their departments, teams and working groups. This is much more effective than one-off training sessions which don’t move the needle; you want employees to incorporate these ideas and beliefs into their daily lives. 9. Embrace flexible working There is a clear link between flexible working and the ability to attract and retain diverse talent. This ranges from flexible hours and ad hoc remote working through to dynamic working, part-time and job share opportunities. Changing your default position to be a flexible employer can be a positive step in the right direction, especially as this is becoming more of an important option to today's employees. It's important that they feel as included and valued in company communications and team decisions as those based in your office. 10. Consider your brand Brand and culture go hand-in-hand. The way in which you offer your products and services to the world reflect your values, and your biases. In the journey toward building a more inclusive organisation, it’s important to consider the relationship between what’s happening inside and outside of your company. What is your brand saying about who you are as a culture? What experiences are being left out or misunderstood? This should be refined and made transparent to potential employees, so they can make an accurate assessment about the cultural fit before applying to a vacancy. ________________ Workplace inclusion is something every workplace should strive for. It ultimately leads to increased productivity and employee well-being. It’s worth remembering that a diverse workplace does not necessarily lead to an inclusive one. A targeted inclusion strategy can go a long way to fostering long-lasting diversity and inclusion within your workplace culture.

2020 Enterprise Applications Events

When it comes to Enterprise Application software, our main focus is on ServiceNow, Salesforce and Workday; and there's a few key conferences and events taking place throughout 2020, for all three. To make sure you don't miss one near you, we've created a full list of this years upcoming events. They will give you the opportunity to learn from the experts and take advantage of peer-to-peer discussions and networking to develop new ideas and get the information you need to dominate in your role. *New events will be added throught the year, as they are announced. ServiceNow Events Event: Knowledge 2020 Date: 3rd - 7th May Location: Orlando, Florida Description: Knowledge 2020 is where extraordinary people come together to take work to the next level. Come and join the movement to learn how people like you are delivering modern digital workflows that unlock productivity and transform the employee and customer experience. We are increasing our focus on you – our customers. By request, we have added more labs, workshops, breakouts, and theaters than ever to highlight the latest product innovations. __________ Event: Now at Work Date: 8th October Location: London Description: Now at Work brings together extraordinary people transforming the world of work. __________ Event: Future of Work Date: 5th March Location: Utrecht, Netherlands Description: Future of Work helps you learn new ways to break down silos, deliver better employee experiences, delight your customer and transform the way you work. Connect with our ecosystem to learn firsthand how the innovation of today will impact your business tomorrow. Join Karel van der Poel, VP & GM of Future products, Jessica Constantinidis EMEA CSO Office at ServiceNow and industry thought leaders, and discover what’s new to address the specific needs for your industry and discover how you can design your next generation operating model and digital transformation roadmap. Salesforce Events Event: Dreamforce Global Gathering (UK Administrators Group) Date: 15th January Location: London, United Kingdom Description: Dreamforce: four days of inspiration, giving back, and having the time of your life with fellow Trailblazers — that only begins to describe the most innovative software conference in the world. With 2,700+ sessions to help every role in every industry succeed, opportunities to get hands-on with the latest product innovations, and thousands of Trailblazers to learn from, it's is not to be missed. __________ Event: NRF20 Date: 12th - 14th January Location: New York, USA Description: Experience the world’s #1 CRM for retail at NRF 2020. Your biggest successes share one thing in common: happy shoppers. Come see how we’re connecting retail companies around their customers today and into the future. See you in New York, Trailblazers! _________ Event: Cactusforce 2020: Salesforce Developer & Architect Conference Date: 17th - 18th January Location: Phoenix, USA Description: In the heart of the desert, this Salesforce developer and architect conference provides users of all ages and experience valuable insight into the platforms and its users. The two-day event features three distinct tracks: developers, architects, and configurators. Each track features engaging speakers, training, preparations, technical information, and much more. It's a valuable tool for anyone using or involved with the software. __________ Event: How Salesforce Uses Salesforce Date: 23rd January Location: Rome, Italy Description: Come and find out how we use our platform in Salesforce to support a successful business! We will show you all our daily activities, from marketing to sales, from apps to the Trailhead e-learning platform: all our cloud features collaborate and complement each other to support our activities and ensure the success of our customers, both Italian and international. __________ Event: London WiT 2020 Date: 6th February Location: London, United Kingdom Description: Join us for our first meeting of 2020. Full agenda to follow but expect the usual mix of networking and learning. __________ Event: Salesforce & Vlocity Health - Health Insurance 4.0 Date: 11th February Location: Dusseldorf, Germany Description: Health insurance 4.0 - the fourth industrial revolution for insurance companies! Salesforce and Vlocity Health exclusively invite you to the joint event on Tuesday, February 11, 2020 in Düsseldorf. The fourth industrial revolution is in full swing. But what strategies can be used to counter the changes and the new framework in order to be successful in the long term? __________ Event: Dreamforce Global Gathering (UK Developers Group) Date: 12th February Location: London, United Kingdom Description: Dreamforce: four days of inspiration, giving back, and having the time of your life with fellow Trailblazers — that only begins to describe the most innovative software conference in the world. With 2,700+ sessions to help every role in every industry succeed, opportunities to get hands-on with the latest product innovations, and thousands of Trailblazers to learn from, it's is not to be missed. Sometimes, however, we have to miss it. Whether travel expenses weren't approved (lets face it, it's expensive when you're travelling from Europe) or you had an important appointment you couldn't miss, Global Gatherings has your back. __________ Event: London's Calling: The Largest European Salesforce Community Event Date: 20th March Location: London, United Kingdom Description: London's Calling is Europe's largest community-led Salesforce event for Salesforce professionals. It is a full day annual event and this year it's taking place on 20th March 2020. You will not want to miss this exciting educational event where you can meet and network with influential people from across the community, as well as learn from more than 50 sessions throughout the day on Admin, Developer, Architect, Marketing Technology, and Career Development topics. __________ Event: Salesforce Basecamp - Stockholm Date: 29th April Location: Stockholm, Sweden Description: Salesforce Basecamp is coming to Stockholm on April 29th 2020 and we promise you a full day of innovation, inspiration, and networking! Basecamp is not just another IT conference. At Salesforce we believe the business of business is to make the world a better place. Business profits and progress will no longer be sustainable unless they serve the greater good. To stay competitive and attract the next generation’s workforce, companies need to cultivate a company culture that inspires all employees, at every level, to do the best work of their lives. At Basecamp you’ll get insights and best practices from world-class thought leaders on how to get your business to thrive in a disruptive world. __________ Event: Connections '20 Date: 4th - 6th May Location: Chicago, USA Description: In the heart of the Windy City, Connections - from Salesforce - is the place to go to discover how to optimize the use of the platform. This two-day event showcases the experience and talents of industry experts and focuses on the practical business applications of the Salesforce platform. Connections consists of representatives from the retail, consumer goods, financial services, healthcare, and manufacturing industries. There are three different tracks for the Connections expo. Discover how to better connect with customers in the marketing track, discover new tools and future applications in the commerce track, and grow customer relationships with the service track. The conference also includes a focus on giving back to the community and culminates with a "Salesforce Concert." _________ Event: TrailheaDX '20 Date: 9th - 10th June Location: San Francisco, USA Description: This comprehensive and engaging conference from Salesforce is a must-attend for all Salesforce developers. The conference offers a "latest and greatest" look at new Salesforce products and innovations from engineers and product leaders. Look forward to networking opportunities with other developers and insights and learnings from Salesforce admins and architects. The conference also boasts hands-on workshops, expert-led sessions, connections with colleagues and Salesforce personnel, and the fun conference "TrailheadX Quest." Opportunities for further connections come from the Salesforce "Global Gathering." __________ Event: Dreamforce 2020 Date: 9th - 12th November Location: San Francisco, USA Description: The prestigious annual Dreamforce conference from Salesforce is one of the premier events in the industry every year. Salesforce's event draws some of the biggest names in the world for acclaimed keynote addresses. Recent speakers include former president Barack Obama, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Game of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke, and many more. The conference boasts a massive selection of workshops, sessions, talks, and industry events; there's a wide array of new product demonstrations and hands-on displays. Dreamforce is rife with networking opportunities for attendees and plenty of fun - with rollicking concerts and parties throughout the four-day event (past bands showcased at Dreamforce include U2 and Metallica). For anyone involved with Salesforce, this event is a must-attend to cap off 2020. Workday Events Event: Workday Elevate Date: TBC Location: TBC Description: Workday Elevate® is your opportunity to experience our innovation live, get hands-on with our products and learn how our customers have achieved breakthrough results. We’re not currently on the road, but our global roadshow will be making stops all over the world in 2020. Sign up now to be notified when details are available __________ Event: Workday Rising Date: 21st - 24th September Location: San Francisco, USA Description: Every year, we bring our community together to explore what’s possible with technology and share innovative solutions for a changing world. Together, we can all rise to the challenges and opportunities before us. __________ Event: Workday Rising Europe Date: 17th - 19th November Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Description: Every year, we bring our community together to explore what’s possible with technology and share innovative solutions for a changing world. Together, we can all rise to the challenges and opportunities before us.

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10 Reasons Why Inclusivity Needs To Be Part of Your Diversity Strategy

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Cloud & Digital Recruitment Specialists​

Salesforce Developer

Salesforce Developer

Senior IT Contract Recruitment Consultant / Team Leader

Trainee Recruitment Consultant

Principal IT Recruitment Consultant

Divisional Recruitment Manager

Senior Data Architect

Senior Microsoft 365 Consultant

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A Few of Our Clients

10 Reasons Why Inclusivity Needs To Be Part of Your Diversity Strategy

#AskStaffHost

Struggling to Hire ServiceNow Professionals? - Here's why

Identifying, Attracting and Retaining High Performers

The Nordics and their Technology Innovations

Interviewing: Active vs Passive Candidates

Employee Spotlight: Q&A with Ryan Daly

2020 Enterprise Applications Events

Cloud & Digital Recruitment Specialists