Birmingham's fast track recruitment programme for ethnic minorities

Birmingham Council is set to create a fast track recruitment programme for ethnic minorities, force staff to undertake “equalities training” and launch a new “race equality” curriculum in schools.

The city will also review street names, monuments, statues, and public art displays to ensure that they “properly reflect and respect the city’s history and communities”.

A plan drawn up by the Labour council leader Ian Ward and his cabinet includes measures to monitor equality of outcome between ethnic groups in areas including pay and health.

It includes a raft of proposals for advancing the career opportunities for non-white people at Birmingham City Council, including that shortlists for all staff vacancies must have at least one ethnic minority, and the creation of a “fast track recruitment and development programme for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people”.

In addition, “every elected councillor and every member of staff will be required to participate in mandatory equalities training, which will take place at least annually”.

The council will also work with historians to create a new curriculum highlighting the so-called diversity of the city, as well as with “partners in the education and community sectors to develop a new ‘Race Equality education programme’ for use in Birmingham’s schools”.