Recruit and retain diverse talent

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Governing an organisation or company involves making decisions about how to recruit the best talent possible for the job. Ensure that you draw up a recruitment plan that has diversity and inclusion at its heart — and manage the process from role conception through to staff career development in a holistic manner.

How do I do it?

This is a huge and fast-developing area, but here are a few stating points to get you going:

  • Work on recruitment and retention in one
  • Create a diversity and inclusion role to help mange the recruitment and retention process — don’t rely solely on HR
  • Deal with unconscious bias
  • Ensure that your job descriptions are accessible and inclusive
  • Ensure that your interview panel is diverse and representative
  • Draw up a workforce development and cultural safety policy
  • Measure, survey and monitor your workplace regularly
  • Create benchmark data

Top resources to Recruit and retain diverse talent

Toolkit

Best practice recruitment guide for creative leaders

A comprehensive toolkit exhibiting best practice for creative leaders to hire in a diverse manner. (Links directly to a PDF.)

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  • 30 minute
    read

  • Published: 2020
    Country: UK

  • Author: Creative Careers

Toolkit

The diversity and inclusion code

The Diversity and Inclusion Code is a code of conduct created by the Dutch cultural and creative sector. The code is an instrument of self-regulation that offers both a general framework and concrete guidelines which will allow cultural diversity to be firmly embedded within your organisation from a governance perspective.

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  • 15 minute
    read

  • Published: 2020
    Country: Netherlands

  • Author: Joan Tol, Cultural Diversity Code Steering Group

Toolkit

Socio-Economic Diversity And Inclusion In The Arts

Comprehensive toolkit for all arts employers, with case studies, guidance and recommendations for best practice in advancing socio-economic diversity and social equality. Informed by learning from the Weston Jerwood Creative Bursaries programme which worked with 110 arts organisations for over a decade, and significant research produced by the Bridge Group.

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  • 60 minute
    read

  • Published: 2014
    Country: UK

  • Author: Jerwood Arts / Bridge Group

Toolkit

Inc Arts Unlock - Anti-racism toolkit

The Unlock toolkit is a free comprehensive resource aimed at arts organisations. It contains over 100 actions that will help creative workplaces become more inclusive, and focuses on hiring, leadership, work and care.

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  • 5 minute
    read

  • Published: 2021
    Country: UK

  • Author: Inc Arts Unlock

Article

Diversity & Inclusion on Boards

Sue Woodford-Hollick OBE talks talks about her own personal experiences as a trustee and Chair of numerous volunteer boards and as a director in the arts and cultural sector.

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  • 4 minute
    read

  • Published: 2019
    Country: UK

  • Author: Sue Woodford-Hollick OBE

Case Study

Toks Dada (classical music programmer, curator and producer) on governance

Toks Dada discusses the biggest governance challenges and opportunities as the sector responds to COVID-19 and the #BlackLivesMatter Movement, his experiences, and the challenges he's facing right now, and advice on how to do it better.

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  • 4 minute
    read

  • Published: 2020
    Country: UK

  • Author: Cultural Governance Alliance

Report

Essential governance practices for arts organisations

These rigorous principles and best practice guidelines will assist boards and board members of all arts organisations to meet their legal obligations. The report includes a section on board diversity.

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  • 27 minute
    read

  • Published: 2021
    Country: Australia

  • Author: Australia Council for the Arts

Glossary

Racial Equity Tools Glossary

The Racial Equity Tools Glossary defines a wide range of terms used in work to achieve racial equity and racial justice at every level, including board and senior management in systems, organisations and communities.

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  • 4 minute
    read

  • Published: 2020
    Country: USA

  • Author: Racial Equity Tools

Toolkit

Re-Tool: Racial Equity in the Panel Process

A tool that provides effective strategies to intervene in ways that expand and empower collective work for racial equity in arts organisations, including sections on how to make your grant panel, application forms, recruitment process and board more racially diverse. It also includes a concise glossary of terms.

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  • 30 minute
    read

  • Published: 2018
    Country: USA

  • Author: Eleanor Savage

Policies

BBC's Diversity and Inclusion Plan 2021-23

A recently published and comprehensive diversity inclusion plan from one of the world’s leading broadcasters, aiming to become the benchmark for the industry. The BBC outlines how they intend to improve diversity and inclusion after a review of their previous standards, and cover strategy for both on and off screen – and for company governance.

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  • 40 minute
    read

  • Published: 2021
    Country: UK

  • Author: BBC

Report

More Than a Moment Pledge

A pledge and process from a collection of West Midlands, UK organisations to ensure equity, investment in, and opportunities with and for Black artists and creatives within their organisation’s culture and work. There is a particular focus on checklists and strategy for governance and organisational culture.

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  • 20 minute
    read

  • Published: 2020
    Country: UK

  • Author: More than a Moment Working Group

Checklist

UK Music Diversity Taskforce - Ten-Point Plan

Delivered by the Music Diversity Taskforce, this Ten-Point Plan aligns evidence and metrics to strategic actions to help increase diversity and boost inclusion at the trade bodies that represent the majority of the UK music industry — covering governance, policy and board strategy.

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  • 30 minute
    read

  • Published: 2020
    Country: UK

  • Author: UK Music

Report

Arts and Culture Governance Spotlight Report

A report that provides an effective comparison and benchmark with other not-for-profit companies and organisations. 1,878 senior leaders in the not-for-profit sector were surveyed and results show board diversity figures and governance training.

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  • 24 minute
    read

  • Published: 2020
    Country: Australia

  • Author: The Australia Council & Institute of Community Directors (ICDA) 

Checklist

Capturing diversity metrics in the workplace

This article raises awareness of legal obligations in governance with regard to equity, diversity and inclusion. It offers a useful checklist on how to capture data and ensure that your legal, HR and policy processes are addressing equity, diversity and inclusion effectively.

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  • 5 minute
    read

  • Published: 2015
    Country: Australia

  • Author: People + Culture Strategies Law Firm

Research

Celebrating Difference: MCA Access, Diversity and Inclusion Plan 2018–2020

A 'living document' from the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, outlining their commitment to connect diverse audiences with contemporary art and ideas, by reducing obstacles to access and participation and seeking opportunities for meaningful inclusion. Exhibiting a holistic leadership and governance strategy in a working document.

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  • 14 minute
    read

  • Published: 2018
    Country: Australia

  • Author: MCA

Webinar

More inclusive recruitment

A filmed event on Employability Day 2021 in the UK, at which employers, refugee professionals and sector partners share ideas and experiences about making recruitment processes more inclusive to refugees. A valuable and nuanced resource for leaders interested in diverse and inclusive employment and governance, with a focus on refugee professionals.

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  • 60 minute
    [suffix]

  • Published: 2021
    Country: UK

  • Author: Renaisi

Report

The diversity and inclusion revolution: Eight powerful truths

An article with 8 proactive points and follow up advice around leadership — and actioning diversity and inclusion to turn aspirations into reality. While most business leaders now believe having a diverse and inclusive culture is critical to performance, they don't always know how to achieve that goal.

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  • 16 minute
    read

  • Published: 2018
    Country: Australia

  • Author: Juliet Bourke

Case Study

How Australia’s top companies do diversity right

A light article on how 6 of the best companies in Australia are actively working towards doing diversity right — and how they put their words into action, from the development of effective partnerships, diverse hiring through to measurement and tackling bias.

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  • 8 minute
    read

  • Published: 2018
    Country: Australia

  • Author: Michael Catford

Article

Employers: preventing discrimination

This guidance, produced by the UK Government gives an overview on how to prevent discrimination during the recruitment process, including the wording of job adverts, where to advertise and questions you cannot ask when recruiting.

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  • 3 minute
    read

  • Published: N/A
    Country: UK

  • Author: UK Government

Infographic

Inclusive Recruitment at Work

Diversity Council Australia has developed an organisational framework for action on how to open up recruitment opportunities.

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  • 4 minute
    read

  • Published: 2022
    Country: Australia

  • Author: Diversity Council Australia

Toolkit

Inclusive Recruitment Tools

Partnering with Jobsbank, Diversity Council Australia has developed evidence-based guidelines to help Australian businesses attract, recruit and select a diversity of jobseekers by recruiting inclusively.

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  • 4 minute
    read

  • Published: 2023
    Country: Australia

  • Author: Diversity Council Australia, Jobsbank

 
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