Strategic Approaches to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Programme – CMI Level 7
Trustpilot - Excellent

Academic partner of

CMI Accreditation

Strategic Approaches to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Programme – CMI Level 7

Provides leaders with tools for driving DEI strategies with data-driven solutions and impactful organisational change.

DELIVERY:

3 Days

LOCATION:

Virtual / London / Manchester / In House

QUALIFICATION:

CMI Level 7 Award in Strategic Approaches to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion - Included in course fee

For Individuals:

From £ 1,500.00 +VAT

For groups & teams:

From £2750 +VAT per day

More Information

Priya Matadeen, Senior Internal Communications Manager - Tideway

The course not only gave us tools and skills but also allowed us space to share our own knowledge and experience. The discussions exploring everyone's own challenges and thoughts have been so beneficial and relatable. Highly recommendable.

Priya Matadeen, Senior Internal Communications Manager - Tideway

In today’s workplace, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are not just social imperatives but strategic business priorities. Organisations that embed DEI into their culture benefit from stronger employer branding, greater customer reach, and more innovative products and services. However, the risks of neglecting DEI—or approaching it without strategy—are significant, impacting reputation, talent retention, and market competitiveness. InPD’s Strategic Approaches to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programme addresses these challenges head-on, offering leaders the tools and insights to turn DEI into a source of lasting competitive advantage.

This programme takes a holistic, strategic approach, recognising that true DEI progress requires more than compliance or surface-level initiatives. Participants explore the full spectrum of workforce diversity and the leadership skills needed to embed equity and inclusion into organisational culture. Core themes include the UK legal framework, understanding and mitigating unconscious bias, challenging non-inclusive behaviours, fostering allyship, becoming an active bystander, and addressing structural inequities to move from equality to equity. Leaders also learn how to analyse organisational data to set meaningful DEI priorities that align with business objectives and drive measurable change.

Designed for both experienced DEI professionals and leaders new to the field, the course blends collaborative learning with practical application. Through interactive workshops and peer-led discussions, participants develop the personal and strategic capabilities needed to lead cultural change with confidence. By the end of the programme, delegates leave with a clear, actionable plan to advance DEI in their organisations, equipped with the knowledge, skills, and leadership insight to create inclusive environments where every employee can thrive.

On completion of this programme, delegates will have:

  • A clear understanding of the legal and business imperatives driving progress and action in DEI terms incl. regulatory oversight
  • Clearly understand the board and director’s role in DEI
  • Develop skills in organisation cultural development
  • Critically assess structural inequality within an organisational context
  • Appraise the influence of equity, diversity, and inclusion on strategic objectives
  • A clear framework through which to create, review, or refine their organisation’s DEI strategy and delivery plan, and develop success indicators and change milestones
  • Enhanced knowledge, awareness, and skills to support their identity and practice as a change leader for DEI in their organisation, through modelling appropriate behaviours and facilitating the presence of allies at all levels
  • Clarity and confidence about the immediate actions to be taken back at base through the development of a personal ‘project’ to be implemented, aimed at delivering practical results and positive change
  • Develop the ability to lead DEI more strategically, and to evaluate personal impact on the organisation and in the accomplishment of organisational objectives

Session 1: The Strategic Case for DEI

Key themes include:

  • Welcome, introductions, and course overview.
  • DEI as social change – a global historical timeline; social value, shareholder activism & procurement process led change.
  • Distinguishing ‘equity’ ‘diversity’ and ‘inclusion’
  • Complying with legal requirements and delivering best practice interventions; pay gap reporting: gender, ethnicity and LGBTQ+, equality impact assessments, accessible information standard.
  • The elements of a creating an DEI strategy; appraising data (incl. benchmarking) to inform priorities, developing priorities, from implementation to embedding change, incl. examples of strategies in practice.
  • Stakeholder engagement and cultural congruence incl. internal (workforce) and external relationships (customers or service users) impacted through DEI.
  • Evidence led approaches incl. strategy case studies

Session 2: Personal Skills for DEI Leadership

Key themes include:

  • Key change leadership skills for DEI incl. self-care
  • Framing ‘diversity’ inclusively
  • The performance case for diversity; DEI influences on organisational objectives
  • Exploring and overcoming personal and systemic bias incl. critically assessing structural inequity within an organisation
  • Creating an inclusive culture: challenging non-inclusive behaviours, exploring allyship, positive action initiatives
  • Taking the stand: exploring ‘courageous conversations’

Session 3: Towards Action

Key themes include:

  • Inclusive leadership: the key traits
  • Psychological safety: what it is and how to promote it
  • Comparative perspectives: case study exercises
  • Co-consulting on personal projects
  • Programme round-up and close

*Content may vary and can be tailored to the cohort.

The CMI Level 7 Award in Strategic Approaches to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Assessment 

The CMI Level 7 Award in Strategic Approaches to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is designed for Directors and Senior Managers who have the authority and personal inspiration to translate organisational strategy into effective performance.  

This qualification requires senior and aspiring senior leaders to build on their skills in strategic management and leadership and to focus on the requirements of inter-organisational strategy. You will be required to take the theory, thought leadership and research discussed on the programme, and implement it in your professional life by focusing on your own leadership development, and positively challenging organisational strategy. 

Delegates will be required to complete one assignment (between 3500 – 4000 words) that requires taught theory to be applied to the strategic organisational context, with a focus on strategic approaches to equality, diversity and inclusion: 

  • 715: Strategic Approaches to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion 

Benefits of completing the qualification include: 

For learners:

  • Enables learners to develop an in-depth understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion at a strategic level.
  • Provides the opportunity to demonstrate a commitment to continual learning and development.  
  • Accredited qualification and certificate on completion. 

For organisations: 

  • Remove structural inequality both within an organisational and social context. 
  • Develop an understanding of approaches to comply with legal and good practice around the influence of equality, diversity and inclusion. 
  • Develop strategic priorities for equality, diversity and inclusion.

Learners also receive: 

  • Targeted tutorials run by our CMI-qualified tutors, to help learners complete the assignment writing phase.
  • Dedicated support from the Quality Assurance Team here at In Professional Development, including regular CMI learner drop-in sessions.
  • Access to a wealth of CMI online learning resources through their CMI Thrive website.

Available Options

DatesTimesLocationAvailabilityPriceQuantity 
13 Jul 202609:00 AMVirtualLimited places available£1,500.00

Download our brochure

See how our Strategic Approaches to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Programme can impact you and your organisation

Leadership Coaching and Mentoring Development Programme Brochure

Meet Your Tutors

Delivered by Industry Experts

Fitzroy Andrew

Tutor

Read bio

Naomi Buthee

Tutor

Read bio

Tash Thomas

Tutor

Read bio

Zara Sloane

Tutor

Read bio

Is This Course Right for You?

Who attends our Strategic Approaches to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Programme:

Job Seniority
Job Seniority

Organisational Decision Makers, Senior Leaders, Executives, Directors, Head of Departments, C-Suite

Job Function
Job Function

Human Resources, Training & Talent, Learning & Development

Time in Role
Time in Role

3 years DEI leadership experience on average

Sector
Sector

Cross-sector

Key Objective
Key Objective

Build your understanding of developing and executing ED&I strategy

TAKE THE IN-HOUSE APPROACH

Considering completing this course in-house?

Our In-House training is fully customisable to your business, and we will work with you to create the perfect training programme for your organisation.

UPCOMING COURSES

Check availability and book your place on an upcoming Strategic Approaches to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Programme

13 Jul 2026 - 09:00 AM

Location: Virtual

Price: £1,500.00

Available: 4 space(s) remaining

Book Your Place

Speak to our team

Fill in your details and a member of our training team will be in contact shortly regarding our courses and availability.