New Role for Inclusivity in the Honours System
Business leader Moni Mannings has been appointed to a pivotal new position to enhance inclusivity within the UK’s honours system. This initiative, spearheaded by the Cabinet Office, includes the establishment of a ‘diversity and outreach committee,’ with Ms. Mannings serving as its independent chair for the next five years.
Addressing Underrepresentation
Recent analysis from the BBC highlighted significant disparities in award distributions, revealing that only 6% of major honours were awarded to individuals from the north of England and a mere 4% to those from working-class backgrounds. Ms. Mannings emphasized the importance of the honours system, stating, “The honours system is one of our nation’s most visible mechanisms, not only for celebrating individual contribution but also of promoting our society’s values.”
A Broader National Narrative
She continued, “Recognising excellence from all walks of life isn’t just a symbolic act – it is how we tell our national story. I would be privileged to play a role in ensuring that the honours system reflects and celebrates the full richness of our society.” Ms. Mannings is not new to leadership; she serves as an independent director for the Co-operative Group and the Land Securities Group and was instrumental in founding the Empowering People of Colour business network.
Commitment to Diversity
In her commentary on her professional journey, Ms. Mannings acknowledged the challenges she faced as a senior leader: “There were very few women, there were certainly no women of colour. But even more than that, so few people from working-class backgrounds, which actually felt like an even bigger barrier.”
Future Directions
The newly formed committee will actively encourage nominations from a broader array of regions and societal segments that are currently underrepresented in the honours list. It will also provide guidance to existing honours committees and government entities to promote a more equitable recognition process.
An analysis of the New Year honours list uncovered that more than 60% of recipients of prominent awards, including Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), knighthoods, and damehoods, resided in London and the southeast, regions that comprise only 27% of the UK population.
