The Government backed Leaders As Change Agents (LACA) initiative, which is designed to improve diversity within UK businesses has received support from the CEO of Bupa Global and UK.
LACA was launched earlier this year (2019), and looks to ensure that business leaders actively “drive equality”. David Hynam, CEO of Bupa has become the first to announce his support. Mr Hynam is also a Global Diversity sponsor for Bupa.
The scheme also requires signatories to sponsor colleagues who are from underrepresented groups within their organisation. With the aim of these individuals rising to executive roles.
Mr Hynam said:
Representation in business is so important – not only does it allow us to attract a wider pool of talent, more importantly it helps us better understand and serve our diverse mix of customers. I’m exceptionally proud to be the first signatory of this pledge and hope to see many other leaders follow.
Emer Timmons, co-chair of the LACA board and CEO of ET Solutions said:
I’m delighted that David Hynam, CEO of Bupa Global & UK, is supporting this initiative and is the first to formally commit to our pledge. The values of a diverse workforce are well-documented. Not only is it important for a business’ colleagues and customers, but it can also help drive the bottom line.
All the same, the fact remains that the majority of UK CEOs are white men. That’s why we’ve launched this pledge to ensure that leaders are taking diversity and inclusion seriously when considering succession planning, so that we see better representation in future.
Its board includes Caroline Waters OBE FRSA CIPD, deputy chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and Denis Woulfe MBE, director of Denis Woulfe Consulting and former member of the Women’s Business Council.
LACA advises on ways to increase female, ethnic minority and LGBT+ talent in senior positions, and also how businesses can encourage the uptake of shared parental leave.
Darius is the editor of HRreview. He has previously worked as a finance reporter for the Daily Express. He studied his journalism masters at Press Association Training and graduated from the University of York with a degree in History.
