National Inclusion Week 2024

This week – 23^rd to 29^th September marks the UK’s National Inclusion Week – and a great opportunity to continue galvanising action to create more inclusive workplaces.

This year’s theme - Impact Matters – underscores the important role each of us as individuals can play, and the potential we have to build a more inclusive workplace and society together.

We asked several members of the PRCA Equity and Inclusion Advisory Board (EIAB) for their reflections heading into the week…

"Inclusion is about closing gaps and bridging divides to lift people up or bring them into the fold without requiring they conform to the norms of a dominant majority. It's easy to preach but hard to practice because it involves people ceding power, privilege or exclusivity to others, which may feel threatening or unsettling but pales in comparison to the traumas of exclusion.

"It takes humility and vulnerability to recognise there isn't a single right or correct way of being, looking, thinking, feeling, speaking and doing. There is your way, there are other ways, and that's something to accommodate and celebrate.

"Comms teams can be key agents in the adoption of more inclusive behaviours in the workplace and society, not because it's reputationally important but because you can't deliver effective comms without considering your messages and methods from the perspectives of others." - Andy Lane, Deputy Managing Director UK&I, Instinctif

“National Inclusion Week is a powerful reminder of why inclusion matters and why we must continue to advocate for change. At the same time, these conversations can feel hard or even triggering because they bring to light the persistent challenges many of us still face. For me, this week is a moment to reflect on progress but also a chance to gather the strength to keep pushing forward. It’s about acknowledging the work that remains and remembering that our efforts, even when difficult, are essential to creating lasting change.” - Antonia Fagbohun, Senior Consultant, Coldr

“For me, inclusion is about allowing people from all walks of life to be their authentic selves without judgement. I want to see a future where anyone is able to bring their entire self – and all their beliefs, experiences, values, and personal needs – to a space, and know they won’t be held back in any way because of it.” - Amy Hayer, Partner, Hanson Search

“Inclusion is a deliberate effort, not a default outcome. It requires strategic decisions at all levels, from leadership to grassroots. It involves dialogue, bringing people together, and at times, navigating through differences. Yet, amidst the challenges, there are those transformative instances - a spark, a significant shift, a cause for celebration. It's these moments that fuel my passion and drive.” - Janita Lakhanpal, Director and Inclusion Chair, Ketchum

“Inclusion and creating spaces where everyone can find a sense of belonging and acceptance is more important now than ever – especially as so much political and social rhetoric is focusing on the things that divide us. I hope that as an industry we can continue to see the importance of celebrating diversity and inclusion, leading by example to help show brands, governments and society at large how important it is to have belonging and to feel heard no matter who you are.” - Ethan Tuxford, Director (Brand), Edelman & Head of Edelman Equal UK

“I hope we can get to a place in the future where inclusion isn’t something to be “done” or “added” but rather a mindset or lens with which we always view the world around us. Ultimately it comes down to being able to see – and really listen – to people on a human level. We all deserve respect, empathy and the opportunity to reach our full potential. In a world that feels more divided than ever, it takes effort and intentionality from every single one of us, to build the inclusive culture of belonging we’re striving to build.” - Ishtar Schneider, Chair PRCA EIAB, People, Inclusion & Diversity Communications Lead, Mars Petcare

“It’s great to have a week where we focus on the strategies and behaviours that will make the workplace and in fact society safe and inclusive. The benefits are widely known and accepted. This is also a great time to remember that you can't achieve any kind of meaningful inclusion if your strategies and behaviours do not include a focus on racial inclusion. Of the nine protected characteristics, it is the only one that can be present in (and therefore discriminated alongside) the other eight. Excluding race and ethnicity equity renders your inclusion efforts ineffective and without foundation. There is no real inclusion without including race.” - Barbara Phillips FPRCA, Chair PRCA Race and Ethnicity Equity Board, Founder, Brownstone Communications

Wondering how you can make an impact this National Inclusion Week? Here’s a few simple ways you can help make a difference

• Find a new joiner (or two!) and carve 30 minutes for a coffee chat with them.
• Planning a team social? Ask if it would suit people better as a breakfast or lunchtime time slot. If it’s always drinks, ask yourself ‘does it need to be?’
• Make a friend from a different generation to you. Data shows you’re more likely to be friends with someone of a different race, gender or socioeconomic background at work, than someone of a different age. Reach across the age barrier – there’s so much wisdom and inspiration to be shared across all generations.
• Give your people the opportunity to open up about what they want and need – whether it’s in a 1:1, team meeting or fireside chat. Create the space (ongoing) for important inclusion conversations and really listen to what’s shared. Whether it’s a space for prayers, a secluded room for breastfeeding or a quiet space for a neurodivergent team member – managers and leaders often don’t know what’s needed until they ask the right questions – and are prepared to act on the insights shared.
• Empower your Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). These are often already vibrant and energetic groups actively driving inclusion across your organisation. Tap them to help you review policies, language used, and to highlight inspirational role models.

One more way to get involved…

Following discussions with the community, the PRCA Equity Inclusion Advisory Board is convening a new workstream focused on religious beliefs and is now accepting applications for practitioners who are interested in joining. The workstream is separate to the PRCA Race and Ethnicity Equity Board (REEB) but would work in alignment given the often highly intersectional nature of race and religion. Please reach out to Richard.Fernandez@prca.org.uk for more information.