Gravitas Recruitment Group’s latest report highlights the rapidly evolving Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion landscape and underscores why skills-based hiring is becoming the preferred strategy for progressive businesses in the UK and EU. The report links effective DEI initiatives with stronger financial performance, better problem-solving, and improved talent attraction and retention.
The Current State of DEI in UK and EU Businesses
-
Gravitas CEO Jonathan Ellerbeck emphasizes the critical DEI inflection point businesses face.
-
Companies scaling back formal diversity programs risk losing competitive advantages.
-
Genuine commitment to inclusive hiring correlates with tangible business benefits.
-
The focus is shifting from “whether” to pursue diversity to “how” to implement it effectively.
Findings from the 2025 Annual Big Tech Employment Survey
-
Women represent only 20% of the UK tech workforce.
-
Female representation in senior tech roles is just 10%.
-
Zero women in C-suite tech roles among 5,000 surveyed participants.
-
Highlights urgent need for improved diversity in leadership.
Impact of the Upcoming European Accessibility Act
-
New accessibility regulations coming in June 2025 will affect businesses across the EU.
-
Stricter standards apply to products and services accessible to 135 million people.
-
Skills-based hiring is a strategic tool to meet and exceed these new requirements.
Essential Skills-Based Hiring Strategies for DEI Success
-
Conduct detailed skills-gap analyses to identify workforce deficiencies.
-
Implement blind hiring techniques to reduce unconscious bias.
-
Use objective talent assessments to track skill development and progress over time.
-
Emphasize measurable outcomes, flexible working, and bias-reducing technology.
The changing DEI landscape in the UK and EU calls for innovative hiring strategies. Gravitas Recruitment Group’s report advocates for skills-based hiring as a forward thinking approach that not only drives compliance with emerging regulations but also strengthens business performance through genuine inclusion.
