14

Women in the UK Intelligence Community

“If organisations are
only recruiting and
promoting one sort of
person, then they are
only going to get one
sort of solution to a
problem.”

Commitment to diversity
11. It is clear that there is support and commitment to diversity at
the top of the intelligence Agencies: the Heads of all three Agencies
recognise both the cultural and operational advantages of a diverse
workforce. We have included the statements that they have made.
12. However, as a 2012 Economist Diversity Summit noted, “Diversity
is counting the numbers, inclusion is making the numbers count”.9
Whether an organisation has 10% or 90% of women, or few black
or minority ethnic staff, may not in itself be a problem; it is how those
staff feel. If they consider that the playing field is not level, then there
is a problem. What matters is whether the staff at a working level
feel valued and included, and whether their experiences demonstrate
that the organisation is positively committed to achieving a diverse
workforce.
13. Following meetings at each Agency with a variety of staff, we have
set out our impressions and recommendations in this Report. In so
doing, we note that these were informal meetings where the agenda
was very much driven by those who were invited and who chose to
attend. Our intention is not to single out any particular Agency, but to
raise general issues that might be addressed commonly – and for the
common good.

9

www.economistinsights.com/businessstrategy/event/diversity-summit-2012

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