The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has launched a new EDI strategy, hoped to improve diversity across the industry.

The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has launched a new strategy today to improve inclusion across PR. The initiative follows research by the institute revealing a persistent lack of diversity within the industry.

In 2020, the CIPR's ‘Race in PR’ report found black, Asian and ethnic minority practitioners faced racism, microaggressions and unconscious biases, as well as inflexible working cultures. Previous research by the CIPR’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee found that nine in ten. UK practitioners are white and 25% privately educated, four times higher than the national average.

CIPR CEO, Alastair McCapra, says: “Our mission is to build a stronger, more diverse PR profession that represents the communities we serve. As an industry membership body, we are determined to play our part in creating a PR industry where anyone can build and advance their careers, whatever their background.”

The new strategy hopes to improve inclusion across the CIPR’s staff, governance structure, volunteers and membership. The initiative will also target the industry more broadly, as well as private, public and third sector leadership.

“This strategy is an important step in our journey. Making changes to our structure, culture and practices will help us confidently advocate for the industry and will be used to inspire change in others,” McCapra continues. “It will allow us to support every PR professional to develop their EDI understanding to enable them to advocate for change in their agencies and organisations and to use our voice to talk about the importance of diverse PR teams.”