Why we care about equalities
I am delighted to introduce the WMCA’s 2022–24 Equality Scheme. The Scheme sets out our vision, ambitions and what we will do to promote inclusion and tackle inequalities over the next three years. It is supported by an action plan and is fully in line with our wider Corporate Strategy, which we published in November 2021.
An inclusive West Midlands economy where everyone can thrive is central to our vision of improving the quality of life of everyone who lives and works in the region. If we want to make this vision a reality, equality, diversity and inclusion must be our guiding principles. We can only make a real and valuable difference to the quality of people’s lives by making equalities part of everything that we do.
The regional equality challenge is large. We need to be bold, think creatively, listen to what our residents and communities tell us, and work together to change things for the better.
We will also continue to work to make our workforce more diverse, so that it fully reflects the diversity of our communities. We will use the collective experience of that diverse workforce to deliver a high-quality service that meets the needs and expectations of all communities.
We will put our Strategic Equality Plan into practice over the next three years. It is vital that we meet the equality objectives we set out in this plan so that all the communities we serve are confident that we are working for them.
We all have a role to play in making our equality vision a reality. We can each influence this through our work, our behaviour and our interactions with others.
I am looking forward to working with staff and partners to make a difference to people’s lives in the region
Laura Shoaf
WMCA Chief Executive