Become a National Inclusion Week® supporter
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Become a supporterThe business case for inclusion has never been stronger, and more contentious, than in today’s rapidly evolving marketplace. It is proven that organisations that prioritise equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) consistently outperform their competitors across key metrics, creating both moral and financial imperatives for action.
Inclusion is under pressure – but it’s more important than ever
Despite numerous documented studies highlighting the benefits of diverse workplaces, EDI initiatives face unprecedented challenges, both within the UK and from the US. Recent data shows a 32% decline in corporate EDI investment compared to 2023 levels (Harvard Business Review, 2025.)
For many businesses, there is a decision to be made, one that will be defined the values of the company and its most senior leaders. The options are stark: continue with a strong EDI strategy, whether explicitly or under the umbrella of culture, or roll back the hard-won gains and efforts of recent years. And there is still so much to do. Leadership teams remain unrepresentative of the diversity across the UK, and invisible barriers to employment and promotion still exist for many.
That’s why this year’s National Inclusion Week® carries the theme ‘Now is the Time’ – a bold and timely call to action. Founded by Inclusive Employers in 2012, National Inclusion Week® has grown into a UK-wide movement. In 2025, we are urging organisations to recommit: not in spite of these challenges, but because of them. This is not the moment to step back, but the time to lead.
Register for National Inclusion Week®
Taking place 15 – 21 September 2025 with the theme ‘Now is the Time’, an urgent call to action for organisations to get behind inclusion and prove the value of it. Register now to access your free Registration Pack.
Register for your Registration Pack now
Understanding the current challenges and opportunities
The landscape is shifting – politically, socially, and economically – and employers must respond with intention. From changing government policy to workforce expectations, the pressure to adapt is growing.
For example, the UK Government’s 2025 ‘Get Britain Working’ whitepaper acknowledges that approximately 4.3 million disabled people remain excluded from employment – representing an untapped talent pool. The policy proposes targeted interventions to reduce workplace barriers and improve support systems for disabled workers seeking employment.
The expectations of a changing workforce
Remote work has inadvertently created new exclusion patterns, with 68% of employees reporting diminished belonging since 2023 (Gallup Workplace Survey, 2025). Organisations proactively addressing and committing to inclusion are counteracting this trend, showing 3.4x higher employee engagement scores.
Demographic shifts make this even more urgent. By the end of 2025, millennials and Gen Z will make up 75% of the global workforce (Manpower Group, 2023), bringing different expectations for workplace culture. These generations rank inclusion and diversity as top priorities when evaluating potential employers, with 76% considering it crucial in their job search (PwC, 2023).
As competitors scale back and even abandon EDI commitments due to political pressures, organisations that maintain inclusive practices gain significant advantages in global talent acquisition. In fact, international candidates now rank workplace inclusion among their top three priorities, with 79% rejecting offers from companies that have publicly scaled back diversity efforts (LinkedIn Global Talent Trends, 2025).
Demonstrating impact is no longer optional
Demonstrating tangible and regular impact will be crucial, yet historically EDI teams have struggled to demonstrate their impact. Now is the Time to change that. It’s time to clearly communicate the difference inclusion is making – for individual employees and for business performance.
What can leaders do this National Inclusion Week® to re-commit to inclusion?
- Make a clear statement to your organisation to say why ‘Now is the Time’. You can use the ‘theme guidance’ in the Registration Pack or Supporters Toolkit to help you.
- Consider an audit to highlight your current maturity level, what you are doing really well, and your opportunities to do more in this space.
- Re-visit your EDI strategy with your C-suite and ensure that it aligns with your business strategy.
- Measure the impact you are having through the work you are doing, including the financial impact on engagement, retention and talent development.
‘Now is the Time’ to act
2025 has been pivotal for EDI. Inclusion cannot wait, it needs renewed and urgent commitment. It’s not despite current challenges that we must act, but because of them.
This National Inclusion Week®, join us in driving forward meaningful, measurable, and lasting change.
Sign up today to be part of the movement, as well as access a free Registration Pack, events and more. Members access the full Supporters Toolkit for free, if you are a member, please login here.
Become a National Inclusion Week® supporter
Why start from scratch planning National Inclusion Week® when you can have everything ready to go?
Our comprehensive Supporters Toolkit gives you professional-quality resources that save time and deliver real impact.
Become a supporter