• About Us
    • About us
    • Careers
    • People
  • Services
    • Inclusive Cultures
    • Inclusive Recruitment
    • Inclusive Development
  • Resources
    • Insights
    • Research
    • Press
  • Case Studies
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
    • About us
    • Careers
    • People
  • Services
    • Inclusive Cultures
    • Inclusive Recruitment
    • Inclusive Development
  • Resources
    • Insights
    • Research
    • Press
  • Case Studies
  • Contact Us
Search
Contact us
Menu

Home › Case studies › Environment Agency getting the mix right for a more diverse environment

Environment Agency getting the mix right for a more diverse environment

  • July 9, 2018

The Environment Agency stands out as an organisation making real and measurable progress in diversity. Its achievements in creating a more inclusive culture have won recognition from Race for Opportunity, the CIPD, and the Civil Service. Behind its successful strategy is a close working relationship with Pearn Kandola.

When Rob Sutton joined as the Environment Agency’s Diversity Manager in 2003, senior management signalled increasing the number of black and minority ethnic staff as a top priority.

“In the early days of setting out a strategy, having support from a credible, external source like Pearn Kandola was extremely valuable. Their input reassured our CEO and also gave us more confidence about some of the diversity initiatives we already had in place,” said Rob.

Pearn Kandola recommended – and then helped – the Environment Agency re-think its approach to recruitment, when feedback from its target audience showed it was seen as ‘stuffy and boring’. The new recruitment branding specifically used words and images that appealed to a more diverse applicant population. Pearn Kandola also designed a more inclusive recruitment process and helped regional teams to introduce it.

The new approach has had a big impact, said Rob Sutton: “We’ve doubled the number of employees from black and minority ethnic backgrounds to close to 3 per cent of the workforce. We’ve also seen a welcome increase in the number of applications from black and minority ethnic candidates, rising from just 2 per cent to around 9 per cent of total applications.”

To keep the strategy fresh and engage the hearts and minds of managers Pearn Kandola provides ongoing practical support. A Pearn Kandola psychologist works in partnership with the Environment Agency’s diversity team to develop new initiatives. Diversity Week, for example, gets all staff involved in quizzes and competitions, community visits, theatre, food and art shows. A thought-provoking e-campaign called ‘Think Again’, developed with HR and Communications staff, aims to get people talking about emotive and legally complex topics. A ‘Think Again’ highlight on the Environment Agency’s web site attracted five times as many ‘hits’ as a normal weekly highlight – proof that the message is getting through.

Stay ahead of the game.

Get the latest on DEI, effective recruitment, and leadership development direct to your inbox.
Privacy policy(Required)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Related Posts

  • Government

Inclusive Recruitment Review with a Public Sector Organisation

A public sector organisation approached us with a problem - they noticed a lack of diversity in their incumbents and...
  • Government

Active Bystander Training with NHS England and Improvement

Discover how we initiated allyship behaviours with NHS England and Improvement. Pearn Kandola developed and delivered an Active Bystander programme for...
  • Government

Creating an Inclusive Culture with London Borough of Enfield Council

After facilitating initial conversations on the topic of Diversity and Inclusion, London Borough of Enfield Council wanted to capitalise on...
  • Government

Stand in My Shoes: Race and Culture in Parliament

To celebrate the launch of their report on Race at Work, ParliREACH (a Workplace Equality Network in support of increasing...
  • Government

Positive Action Programme for BAME staff

In 2015, we were approached by members of the Diversity and Inclusion team at the Cabinet Office who wanted to...
  • Government

Untapped potential: Empowering new talent at the top of the Cabinet Office

The Challenge:  The levels of diversity at the junior and mid-management levels of the Cabinet Office were not being mirrored...

Free Consultation with a Business Psychologist

Talk to us to discuss your needs.
Book an Appointment
14 years’ experience
Jonathan Taylor, Managing Psychologist

Book Your Appointment Today

(Required)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy

Cookie Policy

Site map

Making The World Fairer

© 2025 Pearn Kandola LLP

© 2015-2024 Pearn Kandola LLP. All Rights Reserved.
Pearn Kandola and the Pearn Kandola Logo are registered trademarks of Pearn Kandola LLP.

Attend Our Latest Webinar with Professor Binna Kandola OBE!
  • About Us
    • About us
    • Careers
    • People
  • Services
    • Inclusive Cultures
    • Inclusive Recruitment
    • Inclusive Development
  • Resources
    • Insights
    • Research
    • Press
  • Case Studies
  • Contact Us
Search