Diversity is an asset to firms, says tech leader

A BRISTOL tech boss says it is "heartbreaking" companies are continuing to scale back or scrap diversity schemes - and that UK businesses "must realise" they can benefit financially from them.

- HANNAH BAKER

US-born Bobbi O'Gilvie, who moved to the city a decade ago, has spoken out about the issue as Britain marks Black History Month.

Ms O'Gilvie, who is based in Fishponds and is heavily involved in Bristol's tech scene, is the owner of studio Ready to Blog Designs and a micro-coaching startup called Circe App!

A Harvard graduate who founded her digital agency in 2011, she says people still "pathologise blackness to black people" and that when it comes to inclusion, businesses are only making base-level changes, rather than across the board.

"Diversity is an asset," she said. "From a business standpoint, you can make more money from being diverse."

The answer, she believes, is for companies "to ask better questions" and to "listen when people are speaking up".