At British International Investment, we embrace and celebrate diversity as a fundamental pillar of our organisational ethos. We recognise that our strength lies in the unique perspectives, backgrounds and talents that our diverse workforce brings to the table.
We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where every individual, regardless of their diversity characteristics feels valued and respected. We view diversity as including age, physical or mental disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, socio-economic background or parental/caring responsibilities. We want every individual to feel that they belong in our diverse community of colleagues around the world.
We actively promote equality of opportunity for all employees, striving to create a workplace that is free from discrimination and bias. Our recruitment, retention, and promotion practices are designed to be fair and transparent, providing equal access to opportunities for career growth and development. We encourage a culture of continuous learning, where individuals are supported in expanding their skills and knowledge, regardless of their background.
We will actively engage with our people about how our DEIB interventions and initiatives are received, and we will monitor the impact the actions are having from a variety of perspectives, reprioritising where and when required.
As an organisation, we are committed to measuring and improving our diversity and inclusion initiatives regularly. We understand that fostering inclusion and belonging requires ongoing effort and a commitment to learning and evolving. We welcome feedback from our employees, investees, and partners as we work towards creating a workplace that is equitable, respectful, and fair.
Diversity in our Investments
Our commitment to diversity goes beyond simple acknowledgment; it is an integral part of our business strategy. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workplace both enhances our creativity and innovation and reflects the international nature of our operations. By embracing diversity, we ensure that our decisions and actions are informed by a broad range of perspectives, enabling us to better understand and serve the diverse needs of our investees, partners, and stakeholders.
We have a designated team in our Impact Group who focus on embedding gender and diversity finance into our investing. We recognise the barriers women in our markets face, and we’re committed to using our role as an investor to help close the gaps between men and women, as well as demonstrating the social and economic value of investing in women to the wider investment industry.
We have also set out our ambition to invest for broader diversity outcomes over the next five years, including increasing the representation of black African-owned and led businesses in our sub-Saharan Africa portfolio.
Find out more about our approach and how we work with companies on gender here.
Our Employee Networks
We are a truly international institution with a diverse group of people from a range of national and cultural backgrounds. We have networks across the organisation to help create and support an inclusive culture throughout BII so that all employees can participate and fulfil their potential in an environment where they are valued and respected.
Each network produces events, resources and networking opportunities that highlight the benefits of diversity and inclusion in our work and serve to overcome the barriers to equality that still exist today.
- Umoja Works, a network for those who are interested in, from or associated with the African continent.
- Arise, network for those who are interested in, from or associated with South and East Asia.
- Chi-Squared, a network for those interested in gender equality and women's professional development.
- Pride Works, our LGBTQI+ and friends network.
- Caring Works, for parents and carers.
- Green Works, ensures we deliver high sustainability standards.
Together, we strive to create a workplace where every individual feels empowered to contribute their best, driving our collective success, and making a positive impact in our markets.