A qualitative research study into DEI Insights & Trends in 2025, providing actionable insights and strategies to equip DEI practitioners with tools to drive change effectively.
This 48-page DEI Insights & Trends in 2025 Report shares practical knowledge gathered directly from those at the forefront of DEI work, forecasting how innovation, leadership engagement, global challenges, practitioner wellbeing, and external partners will shape DEI in the year ahead.
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Executive Summary
This Insight Report marks a new chapter in the We Create Space series, offering a hands-on perspective on DEI practices. Moving beyond theoretical justifications, this report dives into the lived experiences of DEI practitioners who navigate complex and often polarised environments to foster inclusive workplaces. Informed by recent roundtable discussions with UK-based DEI experts from diverse industries—including law, finance, technology, entertainment, academia, and consumer goods—this report provides actionable insights and strategies to equip DEI practitioners with tools to drive change effectively.
Against a backdrop of political resistance and heightened scrutiny, DEI has maintained momentum, with 57% of executives reporting increased organisational commitment over the past year. However, practitioners face pressing challenges: DEI work is often met with backlash, globalisation demands culturally sensitive approaches, and the emotional toll on practitioners is significant. This report centres on five core themes, providing a roadmap for sustaining and advancing DEI in 2025 and beyond:
Innovation: Modern DEI efforts require data integration, technology adoption, and cross-functional collaboration to achieve measurable progress. Practitioners highlighted the need for real-time, sensitive data collection across employee demographics and sentiments. Transparency is key, as practitioners work to build trust and ensure informed consent. Leveraging AI and other tools, organisations can better understand and address inequities. Yet, careful strategy and robust communication are needed to prevent “dashboard fatigue” and ensure that data-driven insights translate into actionable steps.
Leadership Engagement: Strong leadership commitment is the foundation of successful DEI initiatives. Practitioners underscored the importance of tying DEI success directly to organisational metrics and embedding DEI into performance reviews and accountability frameworks. By linking DEI goals to business objectives, leadership can drive authentic engagement. Regular updates on DEI progress, along with visible advocacy, help sustain leadership interest, making DEI integral to the organisation’s strategic goals.
Global Challenges, Local Action: As organisations operate across diverse socio-political landscapes, DEI strategies must balance universal values with local cultural and legal contexts. Practitioners recommended the “embassy model,” creating safe spaces within local offices where employees feel protected despite restrictive environments. By co-creating DEI strategies with regional teams, organisations can respect local nuances while advancing global DEI standards, fostering a sense of belonging even in challenging regions.
Practitioner Wellbeing: DEI practitioners often face high emotional demands, carrying the burden of advocating for inclusion and confronting organisational resistance. With burnout common, practitioners need structural support, clear boundaries, and career development pathways to sustain their roles effectively. Ensuring access to mental health resources, establishing role boundaries, and creating career pathways within DEI can help practitioners continue their work without compromising personal wellbeing. Organisational support is essential to retain and empower DEI professionals, ensuring they are set up for long-term success and impact.
External Partnerships: Collaboration with external consultants and NGOs can provide organisations with objective insights and expanded capacity, helping navigate sensitive topics that internal teams may struggle to address. External partners bring fresh perspectives, industry expertise, and a level of neutrality that fosters greater accountability, often strengthening leadership buy-in for DEI initiatives. Especially in times of budget constraints, creative partnerships with external experts offer valuable resources to keep DEI efforts robust and impactful.
In today’s complex landscape, a resilient DEI strategy relies on integrating DEI into core business functions, equipping leaders to be advocates, supporting practitioners holistically, and leveraging external partnerships for expertise and accountability. This report presents not only the critical insights shared by DEI practitioners but also a collective call to action to embed DEI across organisational practices, where inclusivity becomes foundational to resilience and growth.
This We Create Space | Insight Report guides DEI practitioners, leaders, and organisations toward an inclusive model that is responsive to change, adaptive to local needs, and unwavering in its commitment to equity and justice. We hope the reflections, strategies, and recommendations in this report inspire continued efforts to build a workplace culture that values every individual’s contribution, creating environments where everyone is empowered to thrive.
Jon-Paul Vicari
Managing Director, We Create Space
Introduction
We are excited to present a new chapter in the We Create Space | Insight Reports series, DEI Insights & Trends in 2025. Building on our recent inaugural report, “The Business Case for DEI in 2024,” which drew on third-party data to underscore the strategic importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), this edition shifts to a practitioner-centric perspective. While our previous report highlighted the compelling need for DEI in today’s business landscape, this report focuses on practical insights gathered directly from those at the forefront of DEI work.
In a June 2024 study, 57% of executives reported that their organisations have expanded their DEI commitments over the past year, despite growing backlash against corporate diversity efforts including recent decisions on affirmative action in the US. Today, this momentum faces new challenges, as political shifts to the right and escalating polarisation threaten to undermine DEI progress. Yet, in this climate of complex social pressures, only 1% of organisations have significantly reduced their DEI efforts—a testament to the unyielding demand for inclusivity in today’s workplace.
Recognising both the wealth of DEI data and the need for a hands-on, applied understanding, We Create Space facilitated an exclusive series of discussions with DEI practitioners in the UK, representing diverse industries, organisational sizes, and identities. With our commitment to Learn, Connect, Grow, we sought to move beyond the theoretical and support practitioners in navigating their daily challenges. These sessions provided a wide array of insights reflecting the lived realities, innovations, and resilience of DEI professionals.
The insights you’ll find here focus on five crucial pillars: innovation in data, technology, and cross-functional integration, leadership engagement, global challenges, practitioner wellbeing, and external partners. By sharing actionable solutions and expert predictions for 2025, we aim to equip you, the practitioners, with the tools and strategies needed to navigate as well as shape the future of DEI in the face of adversity and uncertainty.
We hope the knowledge and reflections in this report will inspire you to continue advancing inclusivity within your organisations, contributing to a more equitable and sustainable future for all.
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While you're here...
Did you know we consult with Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here.
We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here. New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletters so you can stay up to date!
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