NATASHA BROOMFIELD-REID

Many organizations struggle with integrating equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) into their fundamental operations in the changing workplace of today. Some see EDI as a cumbersome need rather than a strategic advantage, despite increased knowledge, which results in tokenistic attempts or outright indifference. A lack of inclusive policies, biased hiring practices, and overlooked chances to interact with various populations are common problems that can lead to poor team management, decreased employee retention, and a failure to reach under-represented markets.

Diverse Matters bridges this gap by offering tailored, expert-driven solutions that integrate EDI into every facet of an organization. Diverse Matters works closely with customers to design customized tactics that are in line with their specific goals and difficulties, realizing that one-size-fits-all approaches are useless. The company makes sure that EDI is more than just a compliance checkbox and is instead a strong driver of continuous improvement and corporate success through thorough audits, strategic development, and continuing support. 

Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Coventry, West Midlands, Diverse Matters is a leading consultancy dedicated to helping organizations embed equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) within their practices. The company’s mission is to provide bespoke support to organizations at various stages of their EDI journey, ensuring that these principles are deeply ingrained in their operations rather than treated as tokenistic or one-off initiatives.

Diverse Matters understands the skepticism and budget concerns that often surround EDI work. The firm is committed to demonstrating the tangible benefits that EDI brings to all aspects of an organization, from recruitment and retention to effective team management and equitable service delivery. By integrating EDI into business plans and strategies, organizations can not only meet their ethical obligations but also enhance their overall performance.

The company offers a comprehensive range of services tailored to meet the specific needs of each client. These include:

• Diversity and Inclusion Audits: Conducting in-depth assessments of current D&I policies, practices, and culture using data-driven analysis to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement.
• Inclusive Recruitment Audits and Strategy Development: Ensuring that recruitment processes are inclusive and unbiased, reaching the widest possible talent pool.
• Research and Analysis: Providing insights into how EDI can impact an organization’s effectiveness and outreach.
• Policy, Guidance, and Toolkit Development: Creating resources that help organizations implement and sustain EDI practices.
• Diversity and Inclusion Training: Covering all areas of inclusion and equity, ensuring that staff are well-equipped to foster an inclusive environment.
• Leadership Development: Empowering leaders to champion EDI within their organizations.

One of the key factors behind Diverse Matters’ success is its focus on building positive relationships with clients. The firm works closely with each client to ensure that its EDI initiatives align with the client’s business goals and objectives. Whether working on short-term or long-term projects, Diverse Matters excels in project management, ensuring the effective deployment of EDI initiatives through careful planning, resource alignment, and stakeholder engagement.

To ensure continuous improvement, Diverse Matters develops and monitors Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to track the progress and impact of EDI initiatives. The firm conducts regular reviews and provides feedback to clients, fostering an environment of ongoing development.

The Diverse Matters team is passionate about EDI and committed to delivering high-quality services that drive meaningful change. The consultants bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and expertise, with many having over twenty years of experience in the field. This deep expertise allows Diverse Matters to challenge clients constructively, ensuring that their EDI efforts lead to significant impact and outcomes.

One of the firm’s notable projects involved a national UK charity that sought to enhance the diversity of its volunteers and address barriers in the volunteering pathway. Diverse Matters conducted focus groups and interviews with racially minoritized and younger individuals (aged 18-40), followed by comprehensive research and analysis. The resulting report provided actionable recommendations for various teams within the charity, including Volunteering, Brand and Communications, Human Resources, and Digital Sales. This work led to enhanced processes, practices, and systems, enabling the charity to engage more effectively with underrepresented communities.

Diverse Matters continues to evolve its services, driven by the belief that EDI is critical to business success. Under the leadership of Founder and Director Natasha Broomfield-Reid, the company serves a diverse client base across the private, public, voluntary, and not-for-profit sectors, both in the UK and globally. 

“We will continue to enhance and develop our services and work to ensure organizations understand the benefits of equity, diversity and inclusion and that is critical to business success,” says Natasha.

Diverse Matters remains committed to helping organizations understand the value of EDI and ensuring that these principles are an integral part of their strategic planning.