Half of businesses in Scotland plan to introduce new policies and training to improve inclusivity in the workplace – and more than a quarter plan to act in the next six months.
The research by Bank of Scotland found that they plan to prioritise training their staff on diversity and inclusion (31%) to build a more inclusive working environment.
A similar number (27%) intend to have a more diverse team of employees and a fifth want to adopt more flexible working arrangements.
But for many businesses, delivering their plans will require external support and guidance.
Almost one in three (30%) said they need access to specialist HR skills, while more than a fifth (23%) said financial incentives from government would help with their progress towards building a more inclusive workforce.
Legislation from government was cited by 22% as essential to help them move forward.
Chris Lawrie, area director for Scotland at Bank of Scotland, said: “It’s great to see that so many businesses across the country are prioritising creating a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the world we live in.
“Businesses with workforces that truly reflect our communities are often the ones that thrive.
“We all have a responsibility to work together to build environments where all colleagues can prosper - by becoming allies and celebrating each other’s successes, we can empower each other and unlock the fantastic benefits that a more diverse and inclusive workplaces create.”
The survey was carried out between 1 and 15 February as part of the monthly Lloyds Bank Business Barometer across 1,200 UK companies - including 100 businesses in Scotland - from all industry sectors, regions and firm sizes with annual turnover above £250,000.
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