FUTURE needs DIVERSITY

The "FUTURE NEEDS DIVERSITY" initiative aims to encourage companies to take a closer look at diversity in companies. Companies, science and business development come together to discuss - and implement - challenges, opportunities and visions for the future.

The aim of the initiative is to increase diversity within companies in the Hannover Region.

Diversity is an important factor for the future - for society as a whole and also for the economy. Because: The world of work is changing! Demographic developments are affecting the availability of skilled workers, digitalization requires new skills, but also enables the development of new business models and creates opportunities for participation (Diversity Charter, 2024).

The world is becoming stronger, faster and better connected and the changing requirements and needs of future generations require new working models (Haufe 2024) and products.

In order to remain fit for the future, companies must react.

Diversity can be seen as a great opportunity here - as scientific studies on the impact of diversity in companies have repeatedly and impressively demonstrated.

On the one hand, employers are perceived as more attractive if they value the diversity of their employees (Charta der Vielfalt 2024), and employee satisfaction and long-term loyalty also increase (Page Group 2021),as does the availability of employees when different groups of people are addressed and the design of workplaces, e.g. through accessibility.

On the other hand, companies with a diverse workforce have significantly greater innovative strength (Boston Consulting Group 2018), as collaboration between people with very different perspectives, experiences and expertise creates space for creativity. In addition, the diverse backgrounds of the workforce mean that various customer and market needs can be better understood and responded to accordingly, thereby increasing competitiveness (Page Group 2021).

All in all, it can be said that Embracing and valuing diversity in the company is not only a socio-political mandate, but also increases economic success!

ZUKUNFT braucht VIELFALT is consistently developing the region's previous activities on the topic of diversity from the perspective of economic and employment promotion in the form of services for companies.

In doing so, it draws on the basic work carried out in-house, integrates existing projects and activities from the various diversity dimensions and makes content transparent. There is close cooperation with cross-sectional functions, such as the in-house Equal Opportunities team.

As an employer, Region Hannover has been a signatory to the Diversity Charter since 2021 and is thus clearly committed to diversity in the workplace!