Those working in recruitment face some of the toughest challenges of all when it comes to promoting equality and diversity in the workplace.

That was the message of Trevor Phillips, OBE, chair of the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE), addressing members of the Recruitment Society last week.

“People in recruitment are coming under enormous pressure now,” he said.

“In most big companies diversity is taken seriously – what we at the CRE do is give them the tools”.

Phillips added that many employees from ethnic minorities frequently encountered barriers later in their career.

“You get to a certain level where qualifications are no longer relevant and it’s about whether you fit a certain mould,” he said. “The issue of equality and diversity really belongs in the director’s office.”