Stage Two

During this stage we undertook the main fieldwork. We completed 1315 telephone interviews with small and medium sized employers across Yorkshire and the Humber.

The interviews explored:

• barriers faced by employers in engaging with disadvantaged groups
• issues hindering the development of Equality and Diversity policies
• employers' views on how useful current guidance materials are
• issues specific to particular sub-regions or sectors
• good practice already used by employers

The survey was followed-up by site visits to 25 employers. These visits offered the chance for further discussion about good practice and effective Equality and Diversity policies.

The Research Participants:

SMEs contacted during the survey represented the three sub-regions of:

• West Yorkshire
• North Yorkshire
• The Humber

They also represented ten industry sectors regarded as being economically significant or strategically important for these three sub-regions.

Based on information provided by local LSCs, and through discussion with project partners, the ten priority sectors were identified as being:

• Agriculture (including Food, Beverages & Tobacco)
• Construction
• Education
• Health (including Childcare, Adult & Social Care)
• Hotels & Restaurants (including Travel, Tourism & Hospitality)
• Manufacturing
• Public Administration
• Retail
• Transport & Communications
• Voluntary & Community