The Workplace Equity Commission was convened in September 2023 to consider the question ‘How do
we help SMEs create more equitable workplaces’.

The inquiry was set against the background of:

• A tight labour market where employers were struggling to fill job vacancies;
• The need to boost business productivity;
• Increasing numbers of working age people who were economically inactive; and
• Evidence of barriers for cohorts of people in getting access to jobs, in-work progression and representation in senior roles.

Our influential commissioners, listed in full at Annex 1, comprise UK and international Chamber of Commerce CEOs together with businesses and experts from across civil society.

Commissioners defined workplace equity as creating a level playing field for all individuals, recognising that we do not all start from the same place and that adjustments may be required to provide fair access to opportunity. SMEs were identified as a group who were, in general, more likely to have faced challenges in starting or progressing strategies and interventions to break down barriers and create more equitable workplaces.

To understand the perspective of employers and broader stakeholders, the Commissioners published a UK-wide Call for Evidence from October 2023 to June 2024. It sought to understand how to create a culture where leaders ensure workplace equity is at the heart of business and where they commit to the cultural change required. It asked what SMEs were doing to develop equitable workplaces, what support they needed and how Chambers, other organisations and government could help.

The Workplace Equity Commission report summarises the key themes, issues and opportunities raised in our discussions with Chambers, member businesses and a wide range of external organisations during the Commission’s year-long UK-wide inquiry. A list of organisations and individuals who contributed can be found in Annex 2. The report also sets out a five-point plan for employers and policy makers to shift the dial on workplace equity.