- During this first year our partner firms have learnt from subject matter experts, shared practical tips and experiences as well as open discussion to establish best practice – and how to implement change
- Allianz Global Investors, Fidelity International, PIMCO, Royal London Asset Management and Vanguard are committed to continuing our partnership
CFA Society of the UK (CFA UK) celebrates the first year since the launch of its Gender Diversity Partner Programme. The programme, led by the society’s Inclusion & Diversity Network, will continue with partners Allianz Global Investors, Fidelity International, PIMCO, Royal London Asset Management and Vanguard and build on the work already done to support investment firms in the development and delivery of their gender diversity strategies.
In line with the broadening remit of our recently renamed Inclusion & Diversity Network (formerly Gender Diversity Network). The partner programme has agreed to align to this mission and will now be Inclusion & Diversity Partner Programme to reflect this expanded remit. There will, however, still be a focus on gender in the 2019 year’s programming.
Representatives from the partner firms have made peer-connections across the industry and shared knowledge and learnings in 6 workshops over the year facilitated by CFA UK. These workshops focused on flexible working, recruitment, reputation and diversity, industry insight / work shadowing programme, developing a robust diversity strategy, and sponsorship and mentoring initiatives.
"The workshops have been interesting and insightful, and have inspired thinking. It has been useful to see other firms’ work in the diversity space.” - Vanguard
"The workshop session on messaging and positioning was extremely valuable, as was hearing from some of the other partners about their own experiences.” - Fidelity International
“Our relationship with CFA UK has been extremely useful. When we make an observational statement, if it is underpinned by CFA UK, it carries weight. We are delighted to be connected with the CFA UK, for both its community and for the insights it provides, which helps influence internally and externally” - Fidelity International
They have allowed the partner firms to hear from subject matter experts, share practical tips and experiences as well as open discussion to establish best practice – and how to implement change.
"The value of the group to us is in sharing best practices and hearing other firms’ experiences. We all wrestle with similar problems and this group enables us to share and suggest solutions." - PIMCO
““We found it beneficial to share best practice with partner firms and found opportunities to work collaboratively to advance our respective firms Diversity and Inclusion agendas. We have joint sponsorship of SEO London’s HerCaptial programme with Allianz Global Investors to co-host female students from ethnic minorities or low socioeconomic backgrounds in Spring 2019.” - Royal London
Achievements from the group have included:
- A successful review of founding partner flexible working arrangements and the launch on in-house women returner programmes.
- Revisions made to internal and external communications strategies regarding diversity.
- Allianz Global Investors and Royal London Asset Management have joined with CFA UK to launch a Women in Investment insight programme to demystify investment management and aim to attract female undergraduates to the asset management industry.
“ We are proud to be a founding member of the CFA UK’s Gender Diversity Partner Programme, with the group’s work already helping to move the needle on key issues facing the industry, including flexible working and gender diversity. I believe the creation of the Women in Investment Insight programme is an important milestone as it is critical that we focus on how we can attract and retain talented females throughout the industry.” - Irshaad Ahmad, Head of Institutional Europe, Allianz Global Investors
While the Inclusion & Diversity Partner Programme will continue to support the case of diversity in the investment industry – over the next 12 months we also intend to spend more time thinking about how men can be better engaged in inclusion and as well as starting to look at LGBT and mental wellbeing issues.