At Bayes Business School, we want everyone to have an equal opportunity to contribute to and influence every part of our School and society.
A robust Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programme is vital for the health and future of any organisation. In order to produce a new generation of highly skilled, responsible professionals, as a School we need to lead by example. Bayes adheres to the PRME principles – embedding DEI in all that we do.
Our values
In June 2020, there was increasing awareness of the links between Sir John Cass and the slave trade, which made us and our stakeholders reflect on whether such a link was consistent with our values. The School changed its name in September 2021 and there is a strong commitment to change more than its name.
As a global business school, Bayes has a role to play in fostering socially responsible management practices and addressing societal inequalities.
Governance
Professor Lilian M de Menezes is the Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Bayes. Using experience of championing diversity through research into equal opportunity, high involvement management practices, flexible working, and wellbeing, Lilian leads on the School’s DEI strategy, delivering on our objectives and goals through a wide range of activities.
DEI Council
The DEI Council has nine expert members (six pictured here with leaders from Bayes), including Bayes and City, University of London alumni, who advise and support the School’s DEI leadership team in developing and monitoring its strategy.
Douglas Board and Naomi Hulston co-chair the DEI Council. The Council meets four times a year. More about the formation of the Council.
Douglas Board, Founder of Maslow’s Attic Ltd, Honorary Senior Visiting Fellow, Bayes Business School
Naomi Hulston, CEO of Catch22 (Executive Master’s in Leadership, Bayes Business School, 2021).
Jason Dunwell, Head of Advisory and Solutions at Hays (Evening EMBA, Bayes Business School, 2014)
Caroline Faraj, CNN VP and Arabic Editor-in-Chief (MA International Journalism, City, University of London, 2000)
Erik Johnson, Insurance Executive, Lloyd's Expert, (MSc Insurance & Risk Management, Bayes Business School, 2005), Visiting Lecturer, Bayes Business School
Polly Neate, CEO of Shelter (PG Diploma in Journalism, City, University of London, 1989)
Elizabeth Shilling/Liz Tomlin, Head Orthoptist and Eye Team Lead at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, and Upper Warden at The Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers.
Amanda Scott, Global Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Leader at WTW
David Villa-Clarke, Founder and Director of DVC Wealth Management Ltd, and CEO, Aleto Foundation (Modular EMBA, Bayes Business School, 2016)
DEI Committee
Our DEI Committee includes academics, professional staff and student representatives and drives the DEI agenda within the School for staff and students. This includes supporting the development of the DEI strategy and its delivery plan. It is chaired by Prof Lilian M de Menezes and meets at least once in each academic term.
DEI team initiatives
The DEI team leads an engaging programme of initiatives embedding DEI both at the School and in our relationships with the wider community. Current projects include:
Inclusive teamworking workshops
We provide workshops for all Bayes students on inclusive teamworking. We facilitate discussions and reflection on the inclusive behaviours that are expected in today’s business world. Academics and professional services staff attend training to learn how to facilitate the workshops, and more generally, how to manage discussions on diversity and inclusion in the classroom.
Inspirational work with schools
The School Engagement Project was established in 2015 at Bayes, through a philanthropic partnership with The Portal Trust, marking a fundamental commitment by our Business School to engage with communities in London, developing our students’ awareness of challenges in society and to provide an education that is responsible, ethical and will enhance their employment prospects. 419 mentors and 671 mentees have taken part in the programme between 2016-2023.
The innovative “Mentoring and coaching for leadership” module, trains third- and second-year undergraduate students to provide coaching to students in local schools. More about the School Engagement Project
Partnership with the Brilliant Club
Bayes partners with The Brilliant Club to promote fair access to university and to ensure that students succeed when they get there.
The Scholars Programme offers school children tutoring sessions with a PhD student - helping them to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to secure a place at a competitive university. The children also experience life at a London university as part of a graduation visit. Over 400 children visited our University campus in 2022/3.
Historical walks
We organise historical walks for staff to learn about the history of the City of London. In 2023, Peter Grant’s walk for Bayes staff “City of London Slave Trade Walk” covered key sites associated with the transatlantic slave trade and its abolition, as well some of the leading campaigners such as Granville Sharp, Jonathan Strong, John Newton and Olaudah Equiano.
Race Equity and Inclusion (REI) at Bayes
Improving race equity is a priority for Bayes. Our Director for Race Equity and Inclusion Malla Pratt has developed a number of important initiatives including the Racial Equity and Inclusion Network and HR and Students’ Working Groups.
The Racial Equity and Inclusion Network (REIN) - Provides a safe-space for discussions within the BAME staff community at Bayes, where suggestions and feedback on diversity and inclusion initiatives are also considered. REIN has links with the Network for Racial Justice (NRJ) - a staff affinity group for People of Colour (PoC) at City, University of London, bringing together staff who feel passionate about racial justice and want to see a truly inclusive environment at City.
Black in Business at Bayes (BIBB) is a student-run society founded by Clarice Metzger. The society is dedicated to increasing the representation of and advancing Black professionals in the business world.
Women at Bayes
We support women to succeed in their careers and achieve their goals. Our dedicated programmes and networks span our staff, students, alumni, and partners.
Global Women's Leadership Programme
The Bayes Global Women’s Leadership Programme shows why and how organisations should support gender-balanced leadership. We organise workshops to empower women in business, community work, mentoring or other initiatives, while nurturing networks that help build an ecosystem essential for women’s success. We coordinate scholarships and disseminate our research to establish Bayes as an authority on gender-balanced leadership. We also run an annual peer mentoring programme to support students at Bayes in their leadership journey.
The GWLP is led by its Academic Director Dr Janina Steinmetz.
Women in Business Society
The Women in Business Society is a student society that supports aspiring women leaders and promotes gender equality, inclusion and diversity in the workplace. It welcomes all Bayes students who want to challenge gender inequality and the underrepresentation of women in business.
Bayes Academic Women
Bayes Academic Women is an informal network of academics which supports and develops women in their academic career. It is led by Itziar Castello-Molina, Li Cunningham, and Joelle Evans.
Athena Swan
Bayes Business School is part of City, University of London, which holds the Athena Swan Bronze Award. The Award recognises the University’s commitment to gender equality.
CityUniWomen
CityUniWomen is open to professional and academic staff from all Schools and Professional Service Units. It provides an important forum for City women, celebrates successes and encourages members to realise their potential. More information here
Menopause support
City, University of London runs regular Menopause Cafes, and Bayes was pleased to host the first at Bunhill Row in 2023. Twice yearly cafes are now held at Bayes.
LGBTQI+ at Bayes
We cultivate an inclusive environment for our community members through student and staff networks.
Staff social events
The DEI team hosts regular social events for staff around key points such as LGBT+ History Month and Pride month – these are an opportunity to raise awareness of, and combat prejudice against, the LGBTQI+ community, while celebrating its achievement and diversity.
Student society
We promote and celebrate diversity in business and professional settings to help individuals be happy and proud of who they are.
Staff network at City, University of London
The LGBTQI+ network is a forum for networking and provides peer support between City LGBTQI+ staff, the Students’ Union, the Student LGBTQI+ Society, other universities and external agencies. We collaborate with City to shape policy and procedures on matters related to LGBTQI+ staff.
Other inclusive networks
The WAND Network
The WAND Network (staff network for Wellbeing, Accessibility, Neurodiversity & Disability) is a welcoming group at City, University of London for disabled staff, staff with long-term health conditions, staff who care for disabled dependents and staff with an interest in disability and mental health.
The Family and Carers Exchange Network
The Family and Carers Exchange Network is starting a conversation at City, University of London with a view to achieving positive change and raising awareness of City's policies that support families and carers.
Religion and Belief
Religion and Belief is represented at City, University of London through the presence of a Multi-Faith Chaplaincy Team, through the Student Faith Societies representing many of the world faiths and through provision of space for prayer and reflection. The Chaplaincy Team is on hand to provide general spiritual/pastoral support as well as faith-specific support.
Scholarships
Bayes scholarships enable the most deserving students to study at Bayes – whatever their circumstances. The confidence, qualifications and leadership skills they gain will benefit the business world and the community.
Global Women’s Leadership Programme MBA Scholarships
This programme awards four MBA scholarships each year to exceptional women, who are motivated to support the development of women’s leadership. Scholars join an Executive Board that works with the GWLP team to deliver events, workshops, networking opportunities and a peer mentoring programme. GWLP supports students and alumni, and reach out to women across the City and beyond to be part of our community.
Undergraduate scholarships for Black British students
Our scholarship programme for Black UK-domiciled undergraduate students offers up to ten scholarships per year, and covers fees and a stipend. The aim of the scholarship programme is to achieve greater racial diversity in the School, and to support Black students from lower income backgrounds. Students are also offered mentoring, careers support and additional help to succeed at Bayes.
Boyle-Rodney Masters Scholarships
The Boyle-Rodney Fund was set up in 2022 by James Boyle (MSc Real Estate Investment, 1997) to pay tribute to lead tutor Bill Rodney, for helping to launch so many successful and rewarding careers in the connected fields of finance and real estate, and beyond. The fund supports Master’s students with financial need, by covering fees and offering a stipend. Students are also offered mentoring, careers support and additional help to succeed at Bayes.
Executive Master’s in Medical Leadership
The six Covid-19 Medical Leadership Commemoration Scholarships are in memory of the many doctors who died during the pandemic. The majority of doctors who fell victim to Covid-19 are from Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority communities, groups which are also represented in the scholarships.