Resource: GLA Recruitment Drive, getting Black men into Tech.
Unemployment is hitting the country hard right now, but unfortunately it’s not hitting equally, and has also been hitting some groups hard for a long while. One of the hardest hit is young Black men.
Data shows us that by 2020, unemployment rates for young black men are still over double that compared to other groups: Unemployment rates in the 12 months ending March 2021[1] (March 2020-March 2021).
In London, the average unemployment rate is 6.1%. But for Black men that is 12.4%.
But there’s something being done. The Mayor of London has launched Initiative Equality, and the diversity and inclusion consultancy, The Equal Group, has launched a recruitment drive in conjunction with the Mayor of London to create pathways for more young Black men to enter the technology industry. The two-day virtual event will take place 19-20 July (2022) aiming to improve current underrepresentation seen across workforces.
The Mayor of London Recruitment Drive for Young Black Men is a virtual event hosted by the Greater London Authority (GLA) Workforce Integration Network (WIN) and The Equal Group, showcasing career opportunities in technology for young Black men. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about exciting and impactful opportunities within tech, engage directly with current employees, apprentices and graduates from each of the participating companies including; Cognizant, Cloudreach, Informa Tech, Profusion, Paysafe Group, Panaseer, Telent Technology Services and Dell Technologies. The event will include recruitment workshops, helping candidates from underrepresented backgrounds to prepare for each company's recruitment process through interactive workshops and Q&A sessions.
Currently young Black men (16-24) have some of the highest unemployment rates in London with 33% out of work and seeking employment, compared to 15% of young White Men.
The Workforce Integration Network (WIN) was established in 2018 as part of the Mayor’s Strategy for Social Integration to improve pathways for under-represented groups in the workplace. A key focus area for the WIN programme is to support young Black men aged 16 to 24 years into significant and substantial employment in London - meaning roles that are above minimum wage with opportunities for progression. The WIN Design Lab supports large tech employers based in London to build diverse and inclusive workplaces, through a 12-month programme of workshops, training and collaborative learning, culminating in the development of clear action plans tailored to each organisation.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said:
“I’m determined to ensure no Londoner is left behind as we recover from the pandemic. Someone’s life chances should never be limited by their family’s background or the colour of their skin. This initiative gives tech and digital businesses better insight into the role they can play to address inequalities, improve diversity and create industry-wide change.”
The Greater London Authority (GLA) has commissioned The Equal Group to deliver the Design Lab programme. The Equal Group offers data-driven diversity consultancy services and tech platforms to help companies to identify bias, and create strategic interventions to eliminate barriers to inclusion. Based in Birmingham, the company has featured in publications including The Times, The Telegraph, The Independent, BBC, FT, Sifted and The Muse.
Founder and CEO of The Equal Group, Mac Alonge said:
"We are delighted to be working with the GLA once again to deliver our successful WIN Design Lab programme. To date we have taken 20 organisations through the programme who are collectively responsible for directly employing over 100,000 staff in the construction and infrastructure sectors. It's great to have the opportunity to expand the reach and impact of the programme as a result of the ambition and intention shown by the Mayor of London and the wider team. With a group of forward-thinking and progressive tech companies signed up, we hope to massively improve the prospects of young Black men in one of the fastest growing sectors in the world."
Participants attending the virtual event will hear directly from organisations, learn more about the different roles available within companies, and come away with practical advice to jump start their applications. Ultimately, attendees will gain a better understanding of the specific skills employers are looking for, what each of the participating companies does, and most of all, leave empowered with knowledge to support their careers in tech!