By Angela Green: Three year £160,000 Institute of Hospitality DEIB strategy makes waves.
With the support of the Savoy Educational Trust, and the Institute of Hospitality’s (IoH) first Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Council, the Institute has successfully delivered the first 12 months of its three-year £160,000 (2023-2025) DEIB strategy for its members and hospitality sector.
As IoH CEO Robert Richardson FIH MI reported, the Institute’s DEIB strategy has driven positive change and achieved some key milestones at the close of 2023, including the charity being certified as a Disability Confident Committed employer. But he was quick to point out that there is a great deal still to do, and what the Institute has achieved so far is just the tip of a very large iceberg.
“When we put our DEIB strategy together we aimed to create a fair and inclusive environment that was as diverse and accessible as the industry it represents. Our strategy focused on normalising diversity, from mental health to belonging, and everything in between, whilst providing education to our members and wider hospitality family, helping to support them to make their businesses as diverse and accessible as possible, wherever they might be in the world.
“Change can’t be accomplished overnight but we are all working hard to make this happen. This process is continuous. All our daily activities including our podcast which is accessed in over 54 countries, ensure we facilitate and celebrate the diversity across our eclectic industry.”
In 2021 the Institute won significant praise and recognition for its inaugural Youth Council and the creation of its award-winning Diversity Shield campaign, which saw the Institute create a visible asset that captured the emblematic Pride colours on its logo and demonstrated the organisation’s commitment to the LGBTQ+ community. Both won The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland – Diversity Initiative of the Year in 2021.
In 2023, as the Institute celebrated its 85th anniversary, its Funded Membership Scheme was a flagship success. Funding over 150 global applicants, it provides individuals who face financial or other barriers, an opportunity to join their industry body and access a wealth of resources to help their personal and professional development; resources and networking, which they may have otherwise been deprived of due to their circumstances.
Collaboration and partnerships have focused heavily on the Institute’s strategy and a variety of independent industry representatives now make up a variety of IoH working groups and committees, ensuring decisions are fair and equitable.
Collaborations such as the University of Surrey, the Women in Leadership project and the launch of the CrEDIT Club, which focuses on creating equitable, diverse, and inclusive travel and tourism experiences.
The Institute’s Hearts in Hospitality Award launched in June 2023 has also proven to be a resounding success. The programme recognises and rewards the incredible, unsung heroes of the hospitality, tourism and leisure sectors, rewarding them with a year’s IoH membership, alongside the congratulatory publicity of their award.
With applications flowing in daily, the Hearts scheme has already recognised many hidden individuals across the sector, who are making a huge impact on other people’s lives, while undertaking their daily tasks.
Last year saw the production of a white paper in collaboration with the Institute’s members and Liverpool and Sefton Hospitality Operations. The ‘How can hospitality help create sustainable jobs in social mobility cold spots white paper’ discussed how the industry can contribute to creating sustainable jobs and highlighted the sector’s potential for positive societal impact.
Highlighting inclusivity and belonging the Institute saw IoH CEO Robert Richardson FIH MI make the Top 50 LGBGTQ+ champions list – Making an Impact in Hospitality 2023, while the organisation also partnered with the mental health charity MIND’s Mental Health at Work to produce an IoH toolkit aimed at supporting the mental health of its members and the wider hospitality industry.
In response to the challenges faced by the hospitality sector, the Institute launched a Redundancy Information Hub, supporting its members by offering employment and HR advice, CV, and interview skills guidance, mentoring programmes, and resources related to wellness and mental health. Signposting to other collaborative organisations such as CareerScope (powered by Springboard) and Hospitality Action.
Closing 2023, the Institute held its annual Passion4Hospitality Conference and Career Fair in London and secured funding from the Savoy Educational Trust to pay the transportation costs of students from colleges and universities across the UK, to attend the event, and access workshops, network and discuss placement and career opportunities with employers. A first for the Institute and the Passion4Hospitality student-conference.
With a range of initiatives already underway and planned for 2024, including a DEIB Glossary, research, webinars and thought-leadership articles including Generational Diversity, Black History Month, Menopause and How to Avoid Tokenism in the Workplace, the Institute is working towards creating a level playing field for its membership and industry.
“The Institute’s reason for being is to educate and inform, and to provide opportunities for our members and wider hospitality family to become the best versions of themselves. The ongoing commitment to addressing industry challenges and the planned future initiatives demonstrate the institute’s dedication to fostering an inclusive and thriving hospitality industry. We are excited to continue to spread the DEIB message and hope more employees and employers will embrace the journey and join us in helping to make DEIB a reality across the hospitality industry” concluded Robert.
To join the global professional body for the hospitality industry please see here.