We're launching new initiatives
In 2023, we launched initiatives aimed at making sure our workforce is representative across all levels. These include tools such as the Interview Question Builder and Anonymous CVs. We also introduced Unconscious Bias training to minimise bias in the recruitment process.
We are monitoring the impact of our initiatives on the workforce diversity targets we set in Igniting Change, our EDI strategy. Some of these initiatives will take time to have an impact. However, we’re tracking them regularly to understand where things may need to change.
We’re working towards workforce diversity targets
In 2023, BHF’s overall workforce demographics were reported as:
- 11% ethnic minority (compared to our 2025 target of 14%)
- 3% Black (compared to our 2025 target of 3%).
For our Senior Leadership Group (SLG), these figures stand at 11% and 2%, respectively, with the same targets. We also reported that 54% of our SLG is female. However, our aim is to ensure that 68% of our SLG is female to reflect the profile of the organisation.
To help achieve these goals, we’ve launched a new Diverse Talent Programme to encourage more underrepresented groups to move into SLG positions. We also introduced enhanced parental leave and support leave for colleagues.
We have collected data to understand the composition of our Board of Trustees and Committees. Now that we have analysed this data, we will look at how we can best use it to increase representation at this level of BHF’s structure.
- For more information, read our 2023 gender and ethnicity pay gap report.
We’re addressing staff engagement
We have seen a slight drop in colleague engagement scores in the last year, with engagement lower amongst certain groups in our workforce.
We’re working hard to address this disparity - we plan to gather extensive feedback from colleagues this year to understand where we can do things better.
We're making volunteering more inclusive
Alongside other changes to how we recruit volunteers, we have changed the documents people need to volunteer with us. This has helped to make volunteering with BHF more inclusive, including opening these opportunities to refugees and asylum seekers.