Ethnicity and multiculturalism
We know the benefits a diverse workforce and inclusive culture bring. Our industry as a whole has a long way to go to achieve better ethnic and cultural diversity and inclusion. At abrdn we’re focused on actions that are sustainable and systemic and improve outcomes for Black and ethnic minority colleagues. We’re seeing results, and we’re determined to continue to make progress.
What we’ve done in 2022-2023
Recruitment: Tools such as diverse interviewer pools, and external partnerships help us reach candidates from minority ethnic backgrounds. Including a diverse interview pool, using augmented writing software for job adverts to be more easily understood by people who's first language isn't English. And we partner with organisations such as #10,000 Black Interns, SEO London, Black Women in Asset Management
Development: We created a ‘Talk about race’ guide to support colleagues talking openly about race and to build inclusion.
Data: We believe industry transparency helps drive progress and have published ethnicity data on regional representation.
Development: We created a ‘Talk about race’ guide to support colleagues talking openly about race and to build inclusion.
Data: We believe industry transparency helps drive progress and have published ethnicity data on regional representation.
Capability: We run cultural awareness workshops and promote ‘Human Library’ learning opportunities.
Colleague support: Our Unity colleague network runs regular events and provides learning opportunities across the business.
Policy: We were one of the inaugural signatories to the Race At Work Charter in 2018 and also joined the Corporate Call to Action and Change the Race Ratio.
Colleague support: Our Unity colleague network runs regular events and provides learning opportunities across the business.
Policy: We were one of the inaugural signatories to the Race At Work Charter in 2018 and also joined the Corporate Call to Action and Change the Race Ratio.
Our progress as at 31 December 2023
19%
Ethnic minority graduate intake
2022: 26% (UK)
2022: 26% (UK)
Early careers
Micro internship launched
New US programme for university students
New US programme for university students
6%
UK ethnic minority workforce
2022: 6%
2021: 5%
2022: 6%
2021: 5%
60%
Colleague diversity data shared
2022: 61%
2021: 60%
2022: 61%
2021: 60%
Race and ethnicity pledges and commitments
Change the Race Ratio
In 2021, we joined the Change the Race Ratio pledge, a collaboration of employers to make progress on ethnic minority representation beyond board level
Corporate Call to Action
We’re proud to be part of the Corporate Call to Action: Coalition for Equity & Opportunity (CCA) in the US - a corporate social justice initiative, launched in September 2020 by the Connecticut Office of the Treasurer, in partnership with the Ford Foundation.
Race at Work Charter
We were one of the inaugural signatories to the Race at Work Charter in 2018, and following the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, our Chief Executive Officer Stephen Bird became a signatory to the open letter on Black inclusion (by Audeliss and Involve).
More information on diversity, equity and inclusion at abrdn
Learn more about our abrdn employee networks.
Find out more about our work to address gender balance.
More on our approach to partnerships and measuring impact.
How we aim to improve social mobility outcomes at abrdn.
Find out more about our diversity, equity and inclusion framework and targets.
Find out more about how we're implementing diversity, equity and inclusion into everything we do at abrdn.