The Inclusive Hiring Initiative was established to transform recruitment into a strategic driver of equality, diversity and inclusion across Mott MacDonald. Rather than viewing recruitment as a transactional process, we recognised it as one of the organisation’s most powerful opportunities to create long-term cultural and organisational change.
Operating across a large, global business with hundreds of hiring managers presented a significant challenge. Recruitment practices had evolved over time, resulting in varying approaches to role design, shortlisting, interviewing and assessment. While well intentioned, this inconsistency created opportunities for unconscious bias and meant candidates did not always experience the same fair and transparent recruitment process.
Our objective was to create a scalable, evidence-based recruitment model that embedded inclusion throughout the entire hiring journey. We undertook a comprehensive review of our recruitment process to identify barriers, simplify decision-making and introduce greater consistency. This included developing structured competency-based interview frameworks, objective assessment tools, inclusive recruitment guidance, standardised shortlisting approaches and extensive capability-building for hiring managers and Talent Acquisition professionals.
The initiative was designed not only to improve recruitment outcomes but also to change behaviours. By equipping hiring managers with practical tools, training and clear governance, we shifted recruitment from subjective decision-making towards consistent, evidence-based assessment. This has strengthened confidence in recruitment decisions while creating a fairer and more transparent experience for every candidate.
Within its first year, the initiative has delivered measurable improvements across the recruitment pipeline. Representation of women progressing through interview and hiring stages has increased, ethnic minority hiring outcomes have strengthened, and candidates declaring a disability continue to progress positively throughout the recruitment process. These improvements demonstrate that inclusive recruitment is not simply about attracting diverse talent but about ensuring equitable opportunities throughout every stage of selection.
Perhaps the greatest achievement has been creating a sustainable model for long-term change. Inclusive recruitment is no longer dependent on individual champions or isolated good practice; it has become embedded within the organisation’s recruitment framework. By combining data, governance, capability development and continuous improvement, the initiative has established recruitment as a strategic enabler of diversity, equity and inclusion and laid the foundations for continued progress in building a more diverse workforce
Mott MacDonald inclusive recruitment initiative | Birmingham, UK
