Mutual Diversity Alliance

What is expected of organisations that sign up to the MDA?

A business should be accessible to everyone, and committed to demonstrating inclusive behaviours and embracing diversity in all its forms. The Mutual Diversity Alliance expects the following good practices from participating organisations:
• Appointing a senior leader in the organisation to lead our work on mutual diversity across the business;
• Treating all customers and employees with respect, dignity and courtesy;
• Making reasonable adjustments to, and maintaining, an appropriate working environment, where employees from diverse backgrounds enjoy an equality of opportunity, and to demonstrate this through equality of pay, the capacity for agile working, fair recruitment and other HR policies;
• Maintaining an effective culture via our Board, that promotes diversity and sets the right example;
• Working with other members of the Alliance to share good practice, and to support problem solving, and to sponsor training to our people on inclusivity and diversity, and on conscious inclusion, as necessary;
• Reporting each year in September on how we have met the expectations of the alliance.

We’re a mutual organisation committed to diversity and inclusion. How do we join the Alliance?

Please review the supporting documentation to ensure the principles and requirements of the MDA align to your organisation’s values, and when you’re ready to sign up, please let us know by contacting [email protected]. We’ll add you to the register and, over time, ask for evidence of your organisation’s commitment to enhancing diversity and inclusivity.

Is there a charge to become a member of the Alliance?

There is no charge – we simply ask that your organisation demonstrates the appropriate values and commitment to the principles of the MDA, and is keen to work with other members to strengthen and expand access to resources and training.

As a small organisation, we’re concerned about the potential increased pressure on our reporting processes if we sign up.

The focus of the Alliance is on learning and innovation. It is recognised that each organisation starts from a particular point, and that organisations of diverse sizes may have differing resources to draw on, and may therefore take varying times to achieve wider goals.

Can you provide examples of the type of resources promoted by members of the Alliance?

The focus of the MDA is on shared resources and training opportunities. We intend to build a portfolio of resources and training, sourced by members of the Alliance and accessible to all Alliance signatories. For example, LGT Vestra have provided a helpful link to Unconscious Bias training which they ask all their staff to undertake.

If you have any suggestions for inclusion in the portfolio of resources, or would like the Alliance to help source training in a particular area, please contact [email protected]