Ethnic diversity goal eludes the workplace

The Commission for Racial Equality did not mention workplaces when it warned recently that the UK was becoming increasingly segregated.

But businesses employing members of only one ethnic group are worryingly common in the diverse inner cities, according to Simon Topman, president of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce.

Referring to the tough Birmingham districts of Aston, Lozells and Handsworth, Mr Topman says: "There are white-owned businesses that only employ whites, Asian-owned businesses only employing Asians and African-Caribbean businesses with only African-Caribbean employees."

Mr Topman's gripe is not with micro businesses staffed by two or three members of one family, such as corner shops or hairdressing salons. His argument is with enterprises that hire a workforce of 10 or more from a single ethnic group, typically by informal recommendation.

Mr Topman says: "It reflects a lack of thought and may not even be the result of discrimination. But we need to intermingle to develop local economies together."

Story taken from the Financial Times. Read More