Social Impact 2024
Positive About Inclusion is an equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) consultancy and training provider. Founded in 2020, when our two Directors, Lucy Malarkey and Karen Faulkner, took the opportunity to pivot from careers in the public sector to follow their passion for creating and sustaining inclusive workplace cultures. This impact statement summarises the positive social impact achieved and added value delivered during 2024.
Our Approach to Social Impact 2024 and Added Value
As a profit-for-purpose Community Interest Company, our mission is to create a more inclusive world. We work with organisations from the public, private and charitable sectors, supporting them through EDI training interventions and consultancy projects, to create a more inclusive workplace, generating a positive social impact for colleagues as well as the customers and communities they serve. The surplus generated from this commercial activity enables us to give back by delivering added value through pro bono training, consultancy and networking opportunities that we provide.
Our Objectives and Impact
To deliver our mission, we have three objectives:
- To deliver bespoke training solutions that enhance knowledge and understanding
- To deliver consultancy projects that embed and sustain inclusive cultures in the workplace and beyond
- To provide pro bono services for those who would otherwise not be able to access and benefit from these.
A range of qualitative and quantitative impact metrics (as shown above) are measured and monitored throughout the year to enable us to quantify the positive impact achieved.
During 2024, we are proud to have worked with such a diverse range of different organisations and to have welcomed new clients including a multinational chemical distributor, a City of London finance firm and a world-renowned theatre company!
We have delivered equity, diversity and inclusion training sessions to over 1,400 attendees, ranging from front line teams to senior leaders and Boards. All of our workshops are designed to equip attendees with the practical and tangible actions that we can all take some responsibility for to create more inclusive working environments.
The various consultancy projects delivered gave us the opportunity to ‘deep dive’ into an organisation’s approach, for example reviewing recruitment practices to identify opportunities to remove unintended barriers or conducting independent anonymous colleague surveys as a listening exercise. Our findings and recommendations were summarised into reports or presentations, holding up a mirror to the organisation’s culture.
Engaging with Our Stakeholders
Our customers and the wider community are kept informed of our activity through our digital presence and regular social media updates. Furthermore, through our facilitation of the Inclusion Forum North East (a free in-person networking opportunity for professionals who share a passion for EDI) we have a network of members, representing a range of industries and sectors, with whom to network, collaborate and share best practice. The subject of each event responds to feedback from the community and this year included topics such as inclusive recruitment techniques and an exploration of unconscious bias.
Case Studies and Testimonials
Our website includes a range of case studies and testimonials from the projects we have successfully delivered and the positive difference made. Some examples of feedback received on projects and initiatives delivered during 2024 include:
“Huge thank you Lucy and Karen. The expert facilitation and guidance [of our Board Away Day] helped us tackle big questions, explore new opportunities and stay focussed.” Darren Irvine-Duffy, Chair, Pride Action North
“It’s been a pleasure to work with Lucy and Karen on supporting our DEI journey. They have been so easy to work with and have helped us to translate what can be a complex subject into practical and tangible actions.” Lauren Scattergood, HR Talent Manager, Nissan Sunderland
“Skills 4 Work Gateshead would like to thank Positive About Inclusion for their training session on this important subject. We would highly recommend them to the local community.” Tracey Wallace, Development Manager, Skills 4 Work Gateshead
“A really great event with some very interesting discussion points. A pleasure to be an attendee – thank you to both of you, Lucy and Karen! I am already looking forward to the next one!” James Carss, Managing Director, Castle Peak Group
Our Governance Arrangements
As a registered Community Interest Company, we are required to submit a summary of our social value activity, operations and finances annually to the Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies. We are also proud members of Social Enterprise UK, the national membership and campaign body for the social enterprise movement.
This has been another successful year for Positive About Inclusion. We are proud of the positive social impact we have made though our commercial activity and the added value we’ve delivered as a result.
Our ambitions for 2025 include:
- Continuing to expand the number of organisations with whom we work and the difference sectors and industries they represent
- Adapting the commercial services we provide to extend our offer in response to client feedback
- Increasing the amount of pro bono activity we deliver to the equivalent of 30 hours
- Facilitating at least three Inclusion Forum North East events, using feedback from the member community to inform the topics and subjects explored
All of these ambitions will support the delivery of our mission – to create a more inclusive world.
