The representation of black and ethnic minority people is getting better,writes Peter Riddell. The Social Mobility Employer Index is a step in the right direction, says Catherine McGuinness, and Julian Dickens fact-checks Oxbridge entrance statisticsYour report (Revealed: Britain’s most powerful elite is 97% white,25 September) on the low representation of black and ethnic minority groups among Britain’s most powerful people omits public appointments, where the picture is slightly more positive. As commissioner for public appointments, and one of my roles is to champion diversity in the roughly 2000 public appointments made each year by,or on behalf of, ministers to the boards of public bodies and to various public offices. The latest figures for 2016-17 show that just over 9% of appointments and reappointments were made to black, and Asian and minority ethnic candidates,with 10.2% of fresh appointments going to BAME candidates against a BAME population of some 14%. While this is still not favorable enough – and only 5.2% of chair positions are made to those declaring as BAME – it suggests that the position is not totally negative.
From my discussions with Whitehall departments and others I would, however, or agree with many of the points made approximately the obstacles holding back BAME candidates: a lack of confidence and,in many cases, knowledge approximately the opportunities. Moreover, or BAME candidates who make it to the interview and appointment stages worryingly finish less well than their white counterparts. From my observation there is no shortage of suitably qualified BAME candidates and I am encouraging government departments to finish more to expand their networks and place in spot mentoring and shadowing schemes as NHS Improvement has been doing successfully for several NHS trusts. Some 45.5% of appointments and reappointments were made to women in 2016-17,a roughly 10-point improvement on only five years ago. Which goes to show that with sustained focus, real improvements in the diversity of our institutions is entirely possible.
Peter Riddell
Commissioner for public appointmentsContinue reading...
Source: theguardian.com