New project aims to improve racial diversity in digital sector

Leeds City Council has committed to a new project to better understand the landscape for people of colour who are currently working or looking to work in the Leeds digital and tech sector.

Launched this week, the project is being conducted in partnership with WILD Digital and Diverse and Equal, with a view to lead the city into collective action.

Creating a diverse and inclusive workplace is vital for the success of the sector, with recent research from consultancy group McKinsey showing a 35% increase in profit for organisations that are ethnically diverse and inclusive.

Sarah Tulip, co-founder of WILD Digital, said: ‘The last 12 months has brought to the forefront that we need to talk about race, especially in the digital sector, where we are often setting the pace for innovation.  Conversations about race are happening and we are starting to see change in pockets, but it is a topic that still often makes people uncomfortable and worry about “getting it right”.

‘This project led by WILD Digital aims to try and make this conversation clear and accessible for everyone. It is an opportunity for the Leeds Digital Sector to show our passion and commitment to equality and to lead in our listening and set objectives to create a fairer and more inclusive space for all.’

The Council want to uncover the realities of working in the sector as a person of colour, in order to understand the scope of the problem and set objectives to tackle any issues that the community face.

Cllr Jonathan Pryor, deputy leader and Leeds City Council executive board member for economy, culture and education, said: ‘This project is crucial to helping uncover the lived realities of people of colour in the digital and tech sector across Leeds and will allow the sector to identify the necessary actions to create a diverse workforce truly reflective of our city. It is really pleasing to see so many companies across Leeds buy into this really important work and contribute to the necessary change.’

In related news, people in rural Scotland, Wales and the North East of England will see huge improvements in mobile coverage thanks to a £1bn mobile connectivity programme.

Photo by Adeolu Eletu