Enhanced portal now accessed by employers representing 200,000 employees across Northern Ireland, yielding sector-specific EDI insights for the first time

Appointment of eight new assessors expands Diversity Mark’s independent panel to 23 specialists

The leading body for workplace diversity accreditation has announced a £90,000 investment to enhance its digital infrastructure and generate sector-specific EDI insights not previously available at a region-wide level.

Through its newly expanded digital portal, Diversity Mark aims to build a dynamic picture of NI’s workforce helping to illustrate where progress is being made, and where more focus is needed, ultimately supporting employers and policymakers alike to make more informed decisions on diversity and inclusion best practice.

Now used by 78% of its signatories, which represent 1 in 4 employees in Northern Ireland alone, the Diversity Mark portal gives organisations access to robust workforce data around age, gender and job role, as well as a more streamlined assessment process.

That process is now overseen by an assessment panel of 23 independent specialists, eight of whom were appointed this year as part of Diversity Mark’s digitally led expansion and co‑chaired by Judith Gillespie CBE, former Deputy Chief Constable of the PSNI; Kieran Harding, Acting Chief Executive at Business in the Community UK; and Deborah Lange, former Oracle Executive.

Announcing the investment, Diversity Mark Director Christine White said: ‘By enhancing our digital suite, Diversity Mark is giving employers the tools, data and insights they need to better understand their workforce, the challenges they face, and the actions that will make the greatest impact. This strengthened capability will support organisations to attract, retain and develop the best people, while widening the talent pool across Northern Ireland and beyond - ultimately contributing to a more competitive and resilient economy.“

Diversity Mark has also strengthened its peer-to-peer Buddy System, encouraging collaboration and shared learning between signatories, while new additions to the portal also include practical toolkits, guidance and videos, a dedicated events programme and quarterly ‘Meet the Assessors’ events.

Christine concluded: “As employers here increasingly recognise the connective tissue at the heart of inclusive cultures, talent retention and organisational performance, Diversity Mark’s expanded digital accreditation platform aims to position businesses here at the forefront of best practice in EDI measurement and accountability. Together, these developments are designed to ensure that accreditation is not a one-off exercise, but a continuous, data-led improvement process.”

The dataset acquisition is expected to complete by mid-2026 when Diversity Mark will deliver never-before-available insights into the current landscape of equality, diversity and inclusion in Northern Ireland.