• The Charter is an initiative launched by Business in the Community designed to improve outcomes for black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) employees
• Shawbrook joins more than 200 public, private and charitable organisations across the UK
• The Bank will drive actions through its Diversity & Inclusion Working Group and employee inclusion network

Shawbrook Bank has cemented its commitment to supporting racial equality by signing up to a UK-wide initiative aimed at improving outcomes for black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) employees.

The specialist bank announced it had become a signatory to the Business in the Community ‘Race at Work Charter’, joining a growing list of more than 200 public, private and charitable organisations.

Joining the Charter is the latest action by Shawbrook as it cements its commitment to being an inclusive and responsible employer.

Julian Hynd, Chief Operating Officer at Shawbrook, has been appointed the Bank’s Executive Sponsor for the Race at Work Charter.

He said:

“I am extremely pleased that Shawbrook is now an official signatory of the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter.

“As an organisation, we’ve always firmly stood against any form of discrimination, victimisation and harassment but we want to go further and ensure we are positively tackling barriers and making sure our organisation is representative of our community.

“We believe each and every one of our colleagues brings unique talents and perspectives, and we want to ensure they feel supported, respected, have a voice and are able to develop skills and talents in line with our culture and values.

“Our aim is to foster a culture where Shawbrook employees can feel confident in bringing their whole self to work, feel included and see their talents nurtured so they can fully contribute when at work. As a Race at Work Charter signatory, we believe that this further shows our commitment to achieving that goal.”

The Race at Work Charter itself builds on the work of the 2017 McGregor-Smith Review, ‘Race in the workplace’. The Review shone a light on UK employers, revealing that people from BAME backgrounds were underemployed, underpromoted and under-represented at senior levels.

The Charter consists of five key principles to ensure organisations address the barriers to BAME recruitment and progression including;

• Appointing an Executive Sponsor for race
• Capturing data and publicising progress
• Ensuring zero tolerance of harassment and bullying
• Making equality in the workplace the responsibility of all leaders and managers
• Taking action that support ethnic minority career progression

Sandra Kerr CBE, race equality director at Business in the Community, said:

“We would like to thank Shawbrook Bank for setting out their commitment to being an inclusive and responsible employer.

“By signing up to the Charter, they are showing that they aspire to have one of the most inclusive workplaces in the country. Together, we can break down barriers in the workplace, raise aspirations and achievements of talented individuals, and deliver an enormous boost to the long-term economic position of the UK.”