The new D&I Index has been launched by the tech-for-good firm in partnership with the Black British Business Awards and The Network of Networks, alongside a coalition of diversity experts including the 30% Club, INvolve, Change the Race Ratio, Hundo and Delta Alpha Psi.

The index is said to “enable organisations across all sectors to collect and measure their D&I data, set meaningful targets, and implement changes that work to enable workplace inclusivity”.

Research conducted by HR DataHub of 200 large companies earlier this year showed that one-third are taking a data-led approach to putting in place actions and monitoring progress when it comes to D&I initiatives. HR DataHub’s technology-powered solution aims to allow companies to objectively measure their progress and track changes across all levels within an organisation.

Progress will be tracked across five key characteristics: gender, age, ethnicity, disability, and LGBTQ+, and will report across four fundamental measures – representation (by responsibility level), tenure, talent area and pay differentials.

The objectives for the D&I Index are five-fold: to create a data led index for companies to benchmark their D&I performance; integrate this index into that company’s D&I data journey; implement a support framework to help companies progress through this journey; help companies use data to identify areas for improvement and implement changes that work; and measurably improve the working lives of people from any background.

The D&I Index is sponsored by companies including Pennon Group, BAE Systems, Bright Horizons, Phoenix Group, Reward Gateway and M&S, who are paving the way for their sectors to leverage innovation to create inclusive, safe and inspiring workplaces.

Commenting on the launch, David Whitfield, chief executive and co-founder of HR DataHub, said: “We are truly delighted to join forces with a coalition of exceptional and inspirational D&I thinkers to create the first ever D&I index that is 100% objective and data-led.

“In focusing only on the data, we have been able to remove all subjectivity and guesswork. With one simple data submission, we are proud to be able to help organisations across the UK to easily understand how their organisation is performing across five key characteristics and four key measures, so that they can then set meaningful targets through peer comparison and location baselining.”