Home > News > November 2004 > 15-Nov-2004

ING calls in drama for diversity training

Global financial services group ING has trained over 1,000 staff from its UK corporate and institutional banking arm to increase their awareness of the business benefits of diversity.

Drama-based training company Steps Drama developed a three-hour workshop combining professional role plays with ING company information and employment law input.

"We’re committed to equal opportunities, and the avoidance of harassment and discrimination, and we firmly believe that diversity management and an inclusive culture can contribute to our long-term profitability as well," said Lideweij Bakker, HR Manager at ING. "We were keen to raise awareness of the business benefits of diversity and the possible legal implications of non-inclusive behaviour but we felt it would be very dull to just stand up and present this information. Drama-based training offered a more entertaining way of getting our message across and making it memorable."

Steps Drama designed a range of role plays which its professional actors could deliver to highlight inappropriate and unwanted behaviour. The company also brought in Synergy Employment Law, a firm of employment law specialists, to provide details of the relevant legislation on diversity.

Called The Diverse City, the resultant three-hour workshop examined the moral, business and legal case for diversity. It was initially piloted for 50 of ING’s top managers and was then delivered 23 times, for a maximum of 50 staff per session - from throughout ING’s UK Wholesale Banking operation - attending each session.

"The workshops received very positive feedback," said Bakker. "The drama-based approach allows the delegates to engage in lively debate and to share best practice. The combination of role plays and legal input worked very well."

The workshop continues to run every three months as part of ING’s induction program for all new employees.

"The training certainly achieved its objective of raising awareness of the benefits of diversity and the risks of non-diverse behaviour," said Bakker. "It has given us an excellent platform on which to build."

External links

Steps Drama: www.stepsdrama.com

Synergy Employment Law www.synergyemploymentlaw.com

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