Across the Atlantic, corporate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and environmental commitments are facing an intimidating challenge. Legislative rollbacks, political duress and social division have created a climate where major US firms are, at least seemingly, backtracking on their ethical commitments. And the ripple effect being experienced in the UK seems equally challenging. What starts in the US often reverberates here.

The UK saw this in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent global wave of support for Black Lives Matter. That movement catalysed overdue conversations in workplaces across Britain about race, equity, identity and justice. Along with the transformative impact of the pandemic, it helped inspire a new generation of socially engaged employees.