EDI Research

Understanding the makeup of our industry

^{Understanding the makeup of our industry}

The Investment Association (IA) in partnership with the Thinking Ahead Institute have launched a campaign to gather richer data on equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) across the investment management industry. As investment managers increase efforts to promote inclusive workplaces and attract and retain a diverse workforce, this data will help provide an evidence-based understanding of the progress being made and the areas requiring improvement.

In a survey sent to the IA’s 250 members, firms are being asked to provide data on a range of employee attributes, including: gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, as well as socio-economic background and neurodiversity. This will, for the first time, provide a more detailed overview of the demographic makeup of the UK investment management industry and allow firms to benchmark their progress. With the FCA calling on firms to gather richer EDI data, this initiative will also support firms on this journey.

To understand what firms are doing to boost EDI within their workforces, the survey will ask about the type of diversity data currently being gathered by the industry and how often they’re collecting this information.

It also aims to establish how firms are advancing EDI within their organisation and the wider industry through different initiatives and charters. With the results to be published later this year, this study will help create a central resource of best practice, so that firms can understand how to recruit and support a more diverse pool of talent.

We are delighted to be working with the IA on this initiative to provide an evidence-based understanding of the EDI landscape in the UK investment management industry. In doing so, we’ll be allowing asset managers to benchmark their progress and to better focus resources on improving EDI. In time, this should result in a more diverse pool of talent in the UK industry, and beyond, with the corresponding improvement in investment outcomes.

Marisa Hall, Head of, Thinking Ahead Institute

To understand where our industry is and how it will continue to evolve, ensure that your firm participates in this important initiative. To take part, please contact us: edisurvey@theia.org.