More than 80 clients and CGI Partners joined the Empowering Inclusion event at Warwick Business School at the Shard during National Inclusion Week, on 17 September 2026. The event focused on practical action around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I). Through panels, workshops and shared experiences, attendees explored belonging, allyship and inclusion.
Unequal access, pay and progression remained barriers to inclusion
In 2025, workplace inclusion in the UK had advanced, but inequalities in access, pay and progression remained. Office for National Statistics (ONS) 2025 data showed the provisional gender pay gap among full-time employees was 6.9%. Across all roles, including part-time work, it was 12.8%.
The employment gap was also clear. 52.8% of working-age people with disabilities were employed, compared with 82.5% of those who did not identify as having a disability. This represented a 29.7% employment gap.
UK Civil Service figures also showed inequalities in pay and progression. Median hourly earnings for Asian and Black civil servants were 4.5% lower than their white counterparts. Ethnic minority representation was 18% overall, but only 10.5% at Senior Civil Service level.
These figures from across the UK demonstrated why continued awareness and practical action on DE&I were needed. National Inclusion week was set up in 2013 to celebrate inclusion and encourage practical action across workplaces. The National Inclusion Week 2025 provided CGI an opportunity to address these challenges and encourage practical action across workplaces.
Bringing people together to turn inclusion into practical action
CGI created and hosted Empowering Inclusion, bringing clients, CGI Partners, CGI Networks and external specialists together to explore practical action on diversity, equity and inclusion. The event combined panel sessions, interactive workshops, open discussions and networking.
The pilot event took place at Warwick Business School at The Shard. It created a space for people to learn from different perspectives, share experiences and consider how they could make workplaces more inclusive.
The day began with a fireside chat between Rose Bouchard from CGI’s Women’s Network and Char Bailey, Director of People at Birmingham Pride. Here, they discussed intersectionality, privilege and showing up for others.
Two panel sessions brought together expertise from CGI’s REACH (Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage), Uniformed Services and Neuroverse Networks, CGI Partners, external organisations including Evenbreak, and clients.
The discussions encouraged critical thinking about DE&I and how we, as individuals and leaders, could create more inclusive workplaces. Speakers shared lived experiences and practical ideas for supporting people to be themselves and contribute fully.
CGI also created and delivered two workshops, placing attendees as contributors and not passive guests. The first, ‘Bringing your whole self to work,’ used a personal shield activity that connect identity and authenticity with workplace culture. The second, ‘Inclusion in action,’ used fictional scenarios to explore everyday experiences through a simple ‘Notice – Impact - Act’ approach.
CGI’s unconditionally inclusive approach shaped the day.
What attendees took away
Empowering Inclusion gave attendees greater understanding and confidence around inclusion, while helping them recognise everyday moments where their behaviour and response could strengthen inclusion.
The event also helped attendees build confidence in creating spaces where people feel safe and valued, and in acting as an upstander.
Feedback from the event
More than 80 clients and CGI Partners attended Empowering Inclusion at Warwick Business School at The Shard.
Post event surveys showed that the event was well received with every respondent scoring the event 4 or 5 out of 5, giving an overall average of 4.8 out of 5. Respondents also scored delivery against the aims 9.1 out of 10.
The results show strong immediate learning, confidence and connection:
- 83% said the event helped a great deal to deepen their understanding of identity, lived experience and inclusion at work
- 72% said the event helped a great deal to build confidence in creating spaces where people feel safe and valued
- 79% said it helped a great deal to recognise everyday moments where their behaviour and response could strengthen inclusion
- 66% said it helped a great deal to build their confidence in acting as an upstander
- 69% said it helped a great deal to strengthen a useful connection across organisations or networks
Over three quarters of respondents wanted to continue conversations after the event and CGI will be actively supporting them with this.
Attendees were also asked to provide three words to describe the day, and the most popular words were: thought-provoking, inspiring, informative, engaging, insightful, reflective and safe.
We have also taken feedback on potential improvements, and these lessons will help shape future delivery.
The benefits of the Empowering Inclusion event extend beyond the event itself, demonstrating how practical inclusion activity can support wider social value.
Empowering Inclusion demonstrates CGI’s capability to convene clients, third parties and CGI Networks, share lived experience and build practical inclusion knowledge. This aligns with government social value models.
Looking ahead
Based on the feedback, Empowering Inclusion was a successful pilot that delivered positive and immediate outcomes for attendees. The wider ripple effect is yet to be seen, but this is something we aim to monitor.
This format can now be adapted for other Business Units, locations and client groups. Repeating the event annually would allow us to build longitudinal evidence to demonstrate impact and lasting change.
Feedback from attendees
- “This session has helped to remind me of my own behaviour to ensure it is inclusive and fair for future work.”
- “This was very professional and well run. I have rarely been to such a carefully crafted and successful day.”
- “Please keep doing these events.”
- “Great Job!! Lots to think through but I now know how to continue this journey.”
We asked attendees to describe today in three words, and we created this word cloud:
Find out more
At CGI, we embed Social Value into every public sector project, helping central and local government clients to deliver long-term impact for communities across the UK.
To find out more about our approach, explore our Social Value in Government and Sustainability – Social pages or read our Social Value Strategy Brochure.
For enquiries, please contact us.
