BUILDING RACIAL JUSTICE THROUGH EMPLOYMENT

For 200 years, Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) has championed change through education, partnering with people and organisations to drive positive impact. A key part of LJMU’s strategy is workforcefacing provision and collaboration with industry to support inclusive economic growth.

This aligns with the LCR Combined Authority’s Long-Term Skills Plan, emphasising the benefits of workplace diversity. Demonstrating its role as an ‘anchor institution’ in racial equality, LJMU hosted an event in January 2025 CityRegion employers seeking to diversify their workforce.

& SKILLS

The first LJMU Round Table Discussion on Race Equality in the Workplace, attracted organisations committed to recruiting more ethnically diverse employees but, as many admitted, were unsure how to proceed. Around 60 attendees represented organisations including Football Clubs, the NHS, Merseyside Police, and City Councils. The event was co-hosted by Danielle Anderson, Head of Careers & Employability at LJMU, and Justine Jenkins, Strategic Employability & Partnership Manager at the Liverpool City Region (LCR) Combined Authority Race Equality Hub (REH).

Moni Akinsanya, Assistant Director of Diversity & Inclusion at LJMU, highlighted recent progress in Diversity & Inclusion, particularly positive action programs to recruit ethnically diverse talent and a successful Reciprocal Mentoring Scheme, pairing ethnically diverse individuals with senior university executives to enhance mutual understanding.

The event coincided with the approval of LJMU’s Access & Participation Plan 20252029, reinforcing its commitment the Long-Term Skills Plan and partnering with employers to develop diverse, equitable, and inclusive recruitment practices. The forum provided a safe space to discuss race, employment, and the attainment gap. Future partnership opportunities included mentoring, targeted internships, and networking for LJMU students from diverse backgrounds. Justine Jenkins, representing the REH—the first initiative of its kind in the UK dedicated to racial justice — emphasised the importance of cocreation and consultation in all initiatives, urging employers to engage in more open conversations about race.