Britons in favour of EDI initiatives but with renewed approach

Oxford co-led study finds Britons in favour of EDI initiatives but with renewed approach Credit: Whitaker Studio A new report released today, co-led by the University of Oxford, has found that most Britons support Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives, but believe improvements are needed to ensure they are relevant to their everyday experiences. The report is based on a study by the University of Oxford, UCL Policy Lab and More in Common which examined the British public opinion about EDI by looking at a sample of over 6,000 people and focus groups who took part in the research. The study, co-authored by Professor Tim Soutphommasane (Chief Diversity Officer), found that Britons are five times more likely to express positive views about EDI and that the initiatives are beneficial to them. The public, across ideological lines, are more likely than not to think that they personally benefit from EDI initiatives. The study, however, also highlights the need for building greater confidence about how to speak about diversity-related matters, and for EDI initiatives to avoid reinforcing 'us versus them' dynamics. For example, fewer than three in 10 Britons think it is helpful to criticise people for making mistakes while handling diversity issues. As with all things, equality, diversity and inclusion efforts should evolve and be updated, and we have pointed to ways institutions can approach the task of crafting an EDI 2.