Following the success of their annual conference, DSG will offer members of the industry an in-depth look at the results from their latest DEI benchmarking surveys for seafarers and shore-based personnel at an upcoming webinar on November 27.
London, 25 November 2024: The Diversity Study Group (DSG) recently highlighted advances and challenges for maritime’s diversity equity and inclusion (DEI) progress by offering its members an exclusive preview of the findings from its Annual DEI in Maritime Review at their ‘Headwinds and Tailwinds’ conference, hosted by Seatrade Maritime. A further in-depth presentation — showcasing the results of DSG’s annual benchmarking surveys for seafarers and shore-based personnel — will be shared during an upcoming webinar, open to media and industry professionals, on November 27 from 08:30 – 09:45GMT.
At a time when a broad talent pool will prove vital to enabling maritime to access the skills required to respond to the growing importance of digitalisation and decarbonisation, the Annual DEI in Maritime Review, which draws on data from employees of DSG’s membership participating in these benchmarking initiatives, includes several promising findings for the industry. This includes employees across nearly all categories feeling better able to raise discrimination this year, while a smaller proportion across all employee groups said their organisation could be doing more on DEI than in 2023. Despite this, the data also revealed the danger of complacency, with a slight decline in positive sentiment in the shore-based survey from respondents with disabilities.
DSG Founder Heidi Heseltine (pictured above), said, “We are pleased to see a substantial increase in participation from our members and their employees in our annual DEI data-gathering and benchmarking initiatives. This enhanced engagement allows our statistics to grow more robust, and highlights areas where even organisations dedicated to DEI principles can further evolve to drive meaningful change. By leveraging these insights, participating organisations can enhance workplace environments, boosting employee satisfaction and retention. This, in turn, supports the recruitment of top talent and equips businesses with the critical skills needed to future-proof the industry and achieve sustainable growth.”
This year marks DSG’s fifth Annual DEI in Maritime Review, which for the first time included a dedicated seafarer survey, with over 5,000 seafarers signing up to take a survey exploring the specific DEI challenges at sea. More than 3,000 people also completed the shore-based questionnaire – a 20% year-on-year increase. Among other key findings in the Annual DEI in Maritime Review, women seafarers – who are proportionately more likely to have had negative experiences – were found to be more likely to report feeling supported in the workplace than their shore-based colleagues.
Heseltine added, “DSG’s goal in gathering and benchmarking DEI data is to drive measurable outcomes by fostering industry-led discussions that contextualize the findings and identify actionable steps. At our Headwinds and Tailwinds conference, participants explored both the opportunities and challenges influencing DEI progress in maritime. These discussions highlighted tailwinds, such as the availability of diverse global talent pools through remote and hybrid work and increased recognition from leadership teams, alongside headwinds like limited awareness and a tradition-bound industry culture. Through interactive sessions, attendees collaboratively explored strategies to turn data into meaningful actions, including effective communication around survey results, defining impactful KPIs, addressing risks of complacency, and ensuring data is contextualized to deliver real change.”
DSG will release the results of these surveys at an industry-wide webinar on Wednesday, 27 November, prior to the release of their Annual DEI in Maritime Review being available online on Friday, 29 November. Join the webinar and gain insight into how DEI can deliver transformative business results by registering here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dsg-annual-dei-in-maritime-review-2024-tickets-1083169672649?aff=oddtdtcreator
