Effort Launched to Boost Diversity within Honours programs' Selection Process
The UK's honours system is undergoing a significant transformation, with the introduction of a new diversity and outreach committee aimed at making the awards more inclusive and representative of the full richness of UK society.
The committee, chaired independently by Moni Mannings for a five-year term, until July 2030, is a deliberate effort to address longstanding concerns about the honours system being unrepresentative and lacking in inclusivity. The goal is to ensure that nominations and honours reflect the diversity of the UK’s regions, communities, and societal groups, not just high-profile or traditional recipients.
The committee includes members from the existing ten expert panels, covering areas such as sport, education, and political service, thereby integrating diversity considerations within every specialist honours recommending body. The committee’s work is aligned with the Prime Minister’s strategic priorities for the honours system and focuses on guiding how those priorities are reflected in each honours list.
By promoting nominations from diverse backgrounds and driving policy improvements and outreach, the committee aims to redress historical imbalances where certain groups and regions were underrepresented in honours. This approach moves beyond symbolism to telling a more accurate national story that recognizes excellence broadly and celebrates societal values fairly.
The systemic imbalance in the honours process has drawn criticism about its fairness, sparking calls for a greater diversity among honourees. Recent studies have highlighted significant disparities within the UK's honours system, with only 6% of higher awards being granted to individuals from the north of England, and only 4% being awarded to those from working-class backgrounds.
The appointment of Moni Mannings as the independent chair of the diversity and outreach committee is a significant step towards a more equitable honours system in the UK. Mannings emphasized that the honours system is a visible mechanism for celebrating individual contribution and promoting societal values.
This transformation of the UK's honours system follows a history of efforts to increase transparency, meritocracy, and diversity, including previous reviews and reforms dating back to the 20th century. The new committee is part of ongoing reforms emphasizing community recognition and ensuring the honours system truly reflects British societal diversity.
The UK's honours system is undergoing a transformation, and with the new diversity and outreach committee, it is moving towards a more inclusive and representative system that recognizes excellence from all walks of life across the country.
[1] Cabinet Office (2022). Diversity and Outreach Committee. [online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/diversity-and-outreach-committee
[2] Mannings, M. (2022). Addressing Disparities in the UK's Honours System. [online] The Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/apr/01/moni-mannings-addresses-disparities-in-the-uks-honours-system
[3] BBC News (2022). UK Honours System to Become More Inclusive. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60884090
[4] The Telegraph (2022). UK Honours System to Address Regional Inequalities. [online] Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/04/01/uk-honours-system-address-regional-inequalities/
[5] The Times (2022). Honours System to Reflect UK's Diversity. [online] Available at: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/honours-system-to-reflect-uks-diversity-5f2p3l6qk
- To ensure a fair representation of various demographics and industries, the new diversity and outreach committee, appointed to oversee the UK's honours system, plans to promote nominations from diverse backgrounds, incorporating elements of finance, business, and social advocacy, in their recommendations for honors.
- The goal of the diversity and outreach committee, comprised of members from various expert panels, is to review and revise the honours system to be more inclusive, thus reflecting the UK's rich business landscape and the diversity-and-inclusion values within society.
