Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) – The Kin&Co Way

Embracing Diversity: More Than Just Numbers

At Kin&Co, we believe in the power of a diverse and representative organisation. It’s not just about ticking boxes or meeting quotas; it’s about creating an environment where every voice is heard and valued. This commitment to diversity and inclusion isn’t just a part of our ethos; it’s embedded in every layer of our operations.

While some progress has been made in the UK and elsewhere, ethnic minorities, women, working-class employees, and other marginalised groups still face disparities in areas like employment rates, leadership representation, pay equality and feelings of inclusion. 

It’s through increasing awareness of these issues and the benefits of EDI efforts that change is possible. And, as with any change, it requires a journey.

“The UK economy stands to gain an additional £24 billion a year if it matches the best practice on race equality in employment.” (Source: CIPD)

Our Journey Towards Representation

Our journey towards building a representative organisation has been both challenging and rewarding. We’ve delved deep into understanding our team’s diverse needs and identities, ranging from the LGBTQIA community to people with disabilities and across various racial and ethnic backgrounds.

The Data Speaks:

– LGBTQIA Community: We’ve created safe spaces and policies that welcome and celebrate LGBTQIA identities resulting in over 33% of our organisation identifying as a member of this community. 
– Disabled Employees: Accessibility and inclusivity are at the forefront, ensuring that our workplace is not just compliant but genuinely accommodating and welcoming of disabled applicants, with over 14% of our workforce identifying as having a disability we are super proud of our ability to represent this demographic within our team.
– Racial and Ethnic Diversity: We’ve conducted thorough assessments to understand our racial and ethnic makeup and how it aligns with societal demographics.

Benchmarking Against the ONS

Our goal last year was ambitious yet crucial: to mirror the demographic makeup of the UK population. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) benchmarks were our guiding star.

And the result? We didn’t just meet these benchmarks; we exceeded them significantly.

So, let’s start with those benchmarks:

A Closer Look:

BIPOC Representation: We achieved a BIPOC representation of 29%, surpassing the benchmark of 18% of the UK population. This was a significant milestone, proving that creating a representative organisation is both possible and highly impactful.

So what does this mean for large, global organisations? Here’s why representation matters.
“Companies with the most ethnically/culturally diverse boards worldwide are 43 percent more likely to experience higher profits.” (Source: Applied Clinical Trials)

Driving Equity and Reinforcing Principles

Our commitment to diversity goes beyond representation. It’s about driving equity in every aspect of our operations. From recruitment to promotion, team dynamics to client interactions, we continuously reinforce our principles of inclusivity and equality.

The Kin&Co Way: A Model for Others

We believe our approach can serve as a model for other organisations. It’s about:
1. Intentional Actions: Every policy, every decision is made with the intent to foster diversity and inclusivity using our 6 core DEI Principles.
2. Continuous Learning: We’re always learning, always listening to ensure that our practices are not just current but also forward-thinking.
3. Collaborative Efforts: We work with our team, our clients, and our community to ensure that our diversity efforts are inclusive and impactful.
4. In Conclusion: A Journey, Not a Destination

At Kin&Co, we’re immensely proud of our journey in fostering a diversely representative organisation deeply rooted in our team’s lived experiences. We seek to capitalise on the lived experiences of our team to share knowledge and understanding throughout our community, and find ways to build intentional time into our connection points as people. As we do with clients, we are committed to sharing our knowledge, up-skilling each other and always seeking to be a little better today, than we were yesterday.