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Diversity and inclusion (D&I) has featured heavily in speeches by our UK regulators in recent months. The FCA, PRA and Bank of England (the regulators) have now published a discussion paper (DP21/2) which aims to kick-start discussion on how the financial services sector, with the help of the regulators, can “accelerate the pace of meaningful change” in improving D&I within financial services firms.

The policy options being considered in DP21/2 include:

  • regular reporting of diversity data to the regulators;
  • the use of targets for representation;
  • measures to make senior leaders directly accountable for D&I in their firms;
  • linking remuneration to D&I metrics;
  • having a D&I policytraining on D&I and undertaking a diversity audit; and
  • the regulators’ approach to non-financial misconduct, and considering D&I in Senior Managers approvals and assessment of threshold conditions.

The discussion paper also focuses on the importance of data and disclosure in order to enable firms, regulators and other stakeholders to monitor progress.

DP21/2 is relevant to all regulated firms, including insurers, reinsurers and (re)insurance intermediaries. The regulators recognise that D&I will look different for different firms and will not apply a one size fits all approach to D&I.

The proposals in the discussion paper are potentially far-ranging, addressing people-related policies and practices, governance arrangements, accountability, remuneration arrangements, approach to customers and disclosure. Given the importance of the issues raised, the potential for significant change and the level of regulatory scrutiny being proposed, firms should actively engage in this discussion, which is open for response until 30 September 2021.

For more a detailed overview of the policy options proposed in DP21/2, please see our briefing here.

 

Jenny Stainsby photo

Jenny Stainsby

Global Head – Financial Services Regulatory, London

Jenny Stainsby
Christine Young photo

Christine Young

Partner, London

Christine Young
Barnaby Hinnigan photo

Barnaby Hinnigan

Partner, London

Barnaby Hinnigan
Alison Matthews photo

Alison Matthews

Consultant, London

Alison Matthews
Karen Anderson photo

Karen Anderson

Consultant, London

Karen Anderson
Hywel Jenkins photo

Hywel Jenkins

Partner, London

Hywel Jenkins
Clive Cunningham photo

Clive Cunningham

Partner, London

Clive Cunningham
Nish Dissanayake photo

Nish Dissanayake

Partner, London

Nish Dissanayake

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Jenny Stainsby photo

Jenny Stainsby

Global Head – Financial Services Regulatory, London

Jenny Stainsby
Christine Young photo

Christine Young

Partner, London

Christine Young
Barnaby Hinnigan photo

Barnaby Hinnigan

Partner, London

Barnaby Hinnigan
Alison Matthews photo

Alison Matthews

Consultant, London

Alison Matthews
Karen Anderson photo

Karen Anderson

Consultant, London

Karen Anderson
Hywel Jenkins photo

Hywel Jenkins

Partner, London

Hywel Jenkins
Clive Cunningham photo

Clive Cunningham

Partner, London

Clive Cunningham
Nish Dissanayake photo

Nish Dissanayake

Partner, London

Nish Dissanayake
Jenny Stainsby Christine Young Barnaby Hinnigan Alison Matthews Karen Anderson Hywel Jenkins Clive Cunningham Nish Dissanayake