Standard Life Aberdeen leads the launch of the Diversity Project in Scotland

The Scotland Chapter of the Diversity Project, an initiative focussed on increasing diversity and inclusion within the asset management, professional and financial services industries, has been launched by Standard Life Aberdeen and twenty leading firms.

Standard Life Aberdeen has helped launch the Scottish chapter to highlight the opportunity for firms and to establish Scotland as a leader in diversity in the workplace.

The goal of the Diversity Project is to accelerate progress toward a more inclusive culture across all demographics including gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age and disability. The Diversity Project also aims to enhance the financial services industry brand within higher education and develop best practice across member firms.

The establishment of regional chapters is the latest evolution. Edinburgh and Glasgow make up the second largest centre for financial and professional services in the UK, outside London, and financial services is a key sector for Scotland as a whole.

The Scottish Chapter will focus on:

• Influencing and making progress in diversity and inclusion across Scotland,
• Bringing together experts across financial and professional services in Scotland, including asset management, to share best practice,
• Partnering on key areas to have a greater impact for industries across Scotland,
• Committing to have company specific agendas and plans to progress diversity and inclusion outcomes in companies across Scotland.

Lynne Connolly, chair of the Scotland Chapter, and Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Standard Life Aberdeen, said:

"Significant progress comes from collaboration.  I know we will progress more quickly and sustainably in Scotland by working together across our industry. A lot of progress has already been made - it is now about how we accelerate that and, in doing so, make Scotland even more attractive to a wide range of diverse talent."

Keith Skeoch, CEO of Standard Life Aberdeen added:

"We are a global company, with a global outlook, headquartered here in Scotland. We are keen to work with partners in the Diversity Project to strengthen Scotland’s reputation as an innovative, forward thinking force for change."

Dame Helena Morrissey, founder of the Diversity Project said:

"It’s exciting to see the launch of a Diversity Project chapter in Scotland with such great leadership from Standard Life Aberdeen and support from so many founding members. I’m a firm believer in decisions and actions being taken locally – they are more likely to reflect what really needs to be done and so yield results. I’m looking forward to working closely with the Scottish Chapter – and would welcome some healthy competition to achieve the most progress!"

The Scotland Chapter founding members are:

• ABI
• Baillie Gifford
• CBI
• Franklin Templeton
• Gen analytics
• KPMG
• Investment 2020
• Law Society Scotland
• Lothian Pension Fund
• Martin Currie
• Morgan Stanley
• Pinsent Masons
• PwC
• Royal Bank of Scotland
• Royal London
• Scottish Widows
• Zurich
• YSC

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Media enquiries

Katy Hetherington
Tel : +44(0)131 2452283 / +44(0)7841 344374
Email: Katy.Hetherington@aberdeenstandard.com

Notes to editors

Standard Life Aberdeen

• Standard Life Aberdeen plc is a leading global investment company, they employ around 6,000 people in offices in around 50 locations worldwide
• Standard Life Aberdeen manage and administer £551.1 billion of assets worldwide
• Standard Life Aberdeen plc is headquartered in Scotland. It has over a million shareholders and is a FTSE 100 company listed on the London Stock Exchange.

The Diversity Project

In early 2016, a group of leaders in the investment and savings profession decided to take action to accelerate progress towards an inclusive culture within the industry. The Diversity Project recognises that future success – for our clients, members, employers and shareholders – requires an inclusive culture.

The purpose of the Diversity Project is to accelerate progress towards an inclusive culture in the investment profession. An inclusive culture across all levels supports more effective teamwork, gives wider perspectives, better investment decisions, better results for our clients and ultimately more sustainable businesses.  The Project spans the whole range of the profession: asset owners, fund managers, fund selectors, pension consultants, actuaries, trustees, wealth managers and the professional standards and trade bodies.