During an event at 10 December 2019 Diversity at Work has been commissioned to develop such a service desk. The alderman of economic affairs, Mr Victor Everhardt, stressed the relevance of the promotion of the business case model, so that Amsterdam companies and entrepreneurs see rather the advantages for their businesses of a mixed workforce and an inclusive business climate. Doing so, the service desk focusses on small- and medium enterprises in particular.

Diversity at Work is keen to translate the success of national commitment in the field of D&I into a local approach. 46 companies already signed the Diversity Charter in Amsterdam. Building on this network Diversity at Work will engage business associations like SME platforms on sub-municipal level or associations of multicultural entrepreneurs. Together with the municipality, entrepreneurs and associations are consulted about the business case and the concerns in field of D&I.

Subsequently, Diversity at Work will install a service desk that will assist SME’s and other companies and organisations in the city that invest in D&I. The desk will provide information and offer assistance. Together with local entrepreneurs Diversity at Work will make their intensions, actions and results explicit. By doing so, the implicit mechanisms of inclusive management will be revealed.

In 2020 Diversity at Work will build a strong network of companies that set the tone in terms of diversity and inclusion on the Amsterdam labour market. Then, these companies will be able to expand and promote their commitment to other companies.