National Inclusion Week: Going Beyond Buzzwords - What Inclusion Looks Like in Action

National Inclusion Week isn’t just another date on the calendar. It’s a timely reminder that true workplace inclusion requires more than catchy slogans and social media posts. Many organisations talk a good game when it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), but real change happens through deliberate action, day in, day out.

At The Speakers Agency, we partner with inclusion speakers who equip teams with practical strategies that can genuinely transform workplace culture, energise leadership, and create environments where every voice is heard and valued.

Let’s be honest: inclusion isn’t about ticking boxes or filling your recruitment materials with stock photos. It’s about building systems and structures where everyone (regardless of race, gender, disability, neurodivergence, sexuality, or background) has equal access to opportunity and feels a real sense of belonging.

Performative DEI initiatives can sometimes do more harm than good. When efforts lack depth or accountability, trust can quickly erode. On the other hand, embedding real inclusion into your policies, leadership practices, and everyday behaviours ensures lasting impact. It’s about making change that sticks.

So, what does authentic inclusion look like in practice? Here are a few examples from the real world:

• Offering flexible career pathways that support parents, carers, or those returning after a break.
• Establishing Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) with genuine executive sponsorship and influence over policy.
• Implementing bias-aware recruitment processes (such as anonymised CVs and diverse hiring panels).
• Conducting cultural audits and listening sessions to understand the lived experiences within your organisation and taking meaningful action based on what you hear.

Some forward-thinking companies go even further, introducing inclusive design principles, creating sensory-friendly office spaces, or tailoring leadership development programmes to better support underrepresented groups.

The right speaker can shift hearts and minds. Our roster of diversity and inclusion experts includes voices who bring personal stories, sector-specific insights, and practical strategies to help organisations move forward.

For instance, Baroness Floella Benjamin shares candid reflections on her experiences of racial abuse and cultural transition, offering invaluable insights into belonging and representation.

Paralympian and broadcaster Ade Adepitan speaks openly about navigating bias and overcoming systemic barriers as a disabled Black man in media and sport.

Katie Piper’s story of resilience after her life-changing acid attack helps audiences confront unconscious bias and understand the importance of inclusive attitudes.

Jo Salter, the UK’s first female fighter pilot, combines humour with strategy to demonstrate how high-performance teams can foster genuine inclusion – even in traditionally conservative industries.

Our speakers provide frameworks, case studies, and actionable steps that lead to measurable change.

Hiring a DEI speaker for a keynote speech is all about sparking conversations that lead to meaningful transformation. Whether delivered live or virtually, these sessions often serve as starting points for broader initiatives like inclusive leadership training, employee workshops, or revising internal policies.

Storytelling, in particular, is a powerful tool. When speakers share personal experiences, it creates empathy and emotional connection, something statistics alone can’t achieve. When combined with data, insights, and practical steps, their stories become a launchpad for lasting cultural shifts.

Late September’s National Inclusion Week offers a perfect opportunity to energise your organisation around inclusion. Whether you’re just beginning your DEI journey or looking to deepen your existing efforts, bringing in a speaker can unify teams, challenge assumptions, and inspire collective action.

At The Speakers Agency, we’re dedicated to connecting organisations with diversity speakers who are inspiring but also deeply practical, ready to meet your team wherever they are and help them move forward.