Focus beyond the UK

Our international development activities build on the core Focus experience of managing and delivering organisational change in diverse social environments.

The philosophy and approaches developed by Focus are applied to a variety of problems in the fields of social policy, health services, education and economic regeneration and development, stressing access to opportunities, equity and performance in order to maximise human potential and promote social inclusion. Expertise is drawn from across the company, as well as from selected affiliates, to provide clients with highly professional and culturally aware services, wherever they are based.

Focus is committed to bringing its equalities, diversity and institutional change perspective to an international clientele. Within Europe, public and private organisations are beginning to react to the new reality of cultural and ethnic diversity and to recognise their social responsibility for promoting inclusion and resisting discrimination.

Throughout 2004, Focus worked with the European Commission (DG EMPL) on research into the impact of EU anti-discrimination directives issued following acceptance of the Amsterdam Treaty, and also reviewed the socio-economic situation of Roma, Gypsies and Travellers in the EU-25, making proposals on the strengthening of Roma rights and the targeting of EU Roma-related policies. In addition, we worked with the personnel service of the Commission (DG ADMIN) to review its current ethnic diversity policies and to recommend a more proactive approach.

Immigration policy within Europe is a major concern, linking as it does to the demographics of Member States, fundamental human rights, race and diversity issues and the cohesion to be found within European societies. Through 2005, Focus explored the issues surrounding immigration, the integration of immigrants and the cohesiveness of European societies in a study carried out in association with Erasmus University, Rotterdam. The study compared approaches and attitudes to immigration across Europe with a view to making recommendations on future national and EU policy.

Also in 2005, Focus Consultancy and its partner, the Conference Board Europe, undertook a research project aimed at identifying and encouraging the exchange of good practices and the promotion of the development of diversity policies by businesses and employers. The research took the form of a literature review, the development of a questionnaire addressed to those companies participating in the European Commission's Business Test Panel, a research survey to determine good practice, and the compilation of a compendium of good practice, culminating in a conference held in Brussels in November 2005. The Business Case for Diversity report can be downloaded here in English, French and German. For further information, please visit http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/
fundamental_rights/events/ukconf05_en.htm and http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/fundamental
_rights/spot/april05_en.htm.

Focus is also working with private sector companies such as L'Oréal, for whom we are providing diversity training to approximately 2,000 managers around the world. The broad aims and objectives of the training interventions are to increase awareness of diversity issues and to enhance the knowledge and skills of the managers in managing diversity. The Focus approach is directed at changing perceptions and the hearts and minds of managers, and at ensuring that all staff and managers are fully aware of and enthusiastically embrace their duties and responsibilities under all anti-discrimination legislation, and that managers in particular acquire the knowledge, competencies and expertise to manage an inclusive culture.

Focus also works with private companies expanding internationally and wishing to place fundamental rights and values at the heart of their business, as well as with the public bodies which finance the research, development and institutional change necessary for true economic and social progress. We look forward to continuing and expanding these partnerships on a global basis in the future.