Monthly Archives: April 2025

A quiet revolution is sweeping through Britain’s boardrooms: faith is back in the spotlight — and this time, it’s business-led, confirms the latest Faith-Friendly Workplace (REDI) Index.

Baringa Partners is 2025’s most faith-friendly workplace in the UK, retaining its top position in the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation’s second annual REDI Index. The firm tops the 2025 REDI Index for the second consecutive year as FTSE 100 companies increasingly recognise faith inclusion as a workplace advantage. In joint second place are OVO Energy and Clifford Chance, while NATS, the UK’s leading air traffic service, ranks third. … read full article.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 29 April 2025, London (download)

Surge matches recent uptick in young people’s interest in religion in the U.K.

Baringa Partners is the U.K.’s most faith-friendly workplace in 2025 for the second year running. OVO Energy and Clifford Chance tie for number two and NATS takes the third spot on the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation’s 2nd annual U.K. Faith-Friendly Workplace REDI Index survey.

Thames Water, Direct Line Group, John Lewis Partnership, Rolls-Royce, and AWE also score highly for their faith-friendly policies and practices. The benchmarking survey has 11 indicators of best practices including having faith-and-belief employee resource groups (ERGs), sharing best practices with other organisations, and honoring holy days of their employees, among other accommodations such as dress and diet.

Baringa, OVO, NATS and Thames Water all increased their scores from 2024.

In addition to the REDI Index, the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation monitors the websites of FTSE 100 companies. Companies shown in the chart below score highest for: having faith-oriented ERGs; mentioning religious nondiscrimination and/or inclusion as well as the rationale for such policies; linking to additional information; and (for some) mentioning being on the REDI Index or Monitor. 

Surge of FTSE 100 Companies Paying Attention to Religion

The number of companies giving attention to religion among those listed on the FTSE 100 has increased substantially. In 2025, nearly all (94) of the top 100 companies featured religion in some way on their people web pages, up from 79 in 2024, a 19% increase.

“This surge in workplaces that are faith-and-belief friendly matches a recent uptick in young people’s interest in religion in the U.K.,” said Dr Brian Grim, president of the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation. “Having a workplace that is welcoming to people for whom faith or belief is of central importance gives organisations a critical advantage in recruitment, retention and ultimately business success.”

An even more telling figure is the number of FTSE 100 companies giving a formal mechanism to support people of faith in their workplaces. For most, this is through company-sponsored, faith-oriented, employee resource groups (ERGs). In 2025, more than a quarter of FTSE 100 companies (26) now have such groups. This is more than double the number in 2024 (12), a 117% increase.

The median and average scores on the REDI Monitor both rose between 2024 and 2025. The Median rose from 2 to 4, and the average rose from 3.9 to 5.7.

The increase was also reflected in the number of companies whose score increased (54) versus decreased (16) or stayed the same (30).

“These changes are particularly remarkable given the current global pushback against diversity programmes, under which most faith initiatives have traditionally been situated,” said Grim. “It appears religion is not getting lost amidst the disruption to the general field.”

ABOUT THE INDEX

The Faith-Friendly Workplace REDI Index is an international benchmarking survey that companies use to track their progress in (and be recognized for) embracing religion and belief (including non-theistic beliefs) as an integral part of their overall commitment to workplace belonging and success.

The 2025 REDI Index survey asks about activities occurring during the 12 months ending March 31, 2025. 

The 2025 survey has the same 11 questions as in 2024, each worth 10 points, for a total of 110 points. Scoring for each point was based on (a) answering in the affirmative with some evidence (5 points), and (b) demonstrating that the efforts are substantial (up to 5 additional points). The “b” part of each question survey offers “tick” lists to provide further detail. Evidence for and/or a brief explanation of answers must be provided by companies.

As in last year’s survey, the 2025 edition also has an optional 12th question, which can add up to an additional 10 bonus points. This is because we recognize that companies may be doing other religiously inclusive activities that are not covered in the survey that are worthy of recognition.

Companies not completing a REDI Index survey were scored separately by our staff in the REDI Monitor (beginning on page 20) based on what is available on their main diversity webpages. The REDI Monitor allows us to assess the state of faith-friendly workplaces in the top FTSE 100 companies.

© Religious Freedom & Business Foundation

Join us in London on Tuesday, 29th April, for a presentation on AI & Faith.

Jeremy Peckham has spent much of his career in the field of Artificial Intelligence, and latterly, as a businessman and entrepreneur. He worked as a government scientist at the UK Royal Aircraft Establishment and later moved to Logica, an international software and systems integration company. Whilst at Logica he was Project Director of the 5 year, pan European and 20m Euro research project on Speech Understanding and Dialogue (SUNDIAL) that broke new ground in AI.

Jeremy is a Commissioner on the AI Faith & Civil Society Commission. The Commission comprises senior leaders from faith and civil society institutions around the world, working together to harness the opportunities of Artificial Intelligence for human flourishing while protecting communities from harm.

He founded his first company in 1993 through a management buy-out, based on the AI technology developed at Logica, and launched a successful public offering on the London Stock Exchange in 1996. Jeremy is now a technology entrepreneur, having helped to establish several high-tech companies over the last 25 years, where he has served as founder and interim CEO, Chairman, or non-executive director. He is part of a growing network of Christians in Europe and North America interested in AI and has spoken regularly at the Annual European Leadership Forum.

Wonderful meetings yesterday at the Scottish Parliament with John Mason MSP and Stephen Kerr MSP.

We discussed next having a virtual seminar for their Cross Party Group for Freedom of Religion or Belief. Then we’ll aim for an in-person event where companies are invited to join MSPs to hear how some of Scotland’s best companies are also to faith-friendly workplaces.

These include John Lewis Partnership and OVO, which hosted a Business in the Community seminar this week on building workplaces where people are welcome, including people of varying faiths and beliefs. Huge thank you Louise Bailey and Alessandro (Alex) Storer! Also, thanks to Radius Networks for dynamic presentations!

Also, thanks to Daryl Watson and the The FoRB Foundation for organizing the parliament meetings, including unique opportunity to observe the First Minister’s Questions in a full session of parliament. The architecture of the Scottish Parliament was also fascinating, including the office windows in each MSP’s office that included a window seat.

By Brian Grim

Wonderful meetings today at the Scottish Parliament with John Mason MSP and Stephen Kerr MSP.

We discussed next having a virtual seminar for their Cross Party Group for Freedom of Religion or Belief. Then we’ll aim for an in-person event where companies are invited to join MSPs to hear how some of Scotland’s best companies are also to faith-friendly workplaces. These include John Lewis Partnership and OVO, which hosted a Business in the Community seminar yesterday on building workplaces where people are welcome, including people of varying faiths and beliefs.

Huge thank you Louise Bailey and Alessandro (Alex) Storer! Also, thanks to Radius Networks for dynamic presentations! Also, thanks to Daryl Watson and the The FoRB Foundation for organizing the parliament meetings, including unique opportunity to observe the First Minister’s Questions in a full session of parliament. The architecture of the Scottish Parliament was also fascinating, including the office windows in each MSP’s office that included a window seat.

A man who was great because he lived out humbly the two greatest commandments

By Brian Grim, President

The Religious Freedom & Business Foundation offers prayers and condolences on the passing of Pope Francis today. His papacy, which began the year before RFBF’s founding, shaped the narrative on the purpose and responsibilities of business and business leaders for a new generation.

While his most famous encyclical, LAUDATO SI’ / Care for Our Common Home, addressed the responsibility of all sectors of society to care for one another and our planet, other business-oriented documents, such as the re-launch of the Vatican’s Vocation of the Business Leader occurred during his pontificate. This document as well as his encouragement to the Economy of Communion movement, embodies an approach to business that puts human dignity and integral human development at the heart of every economic endeavor. His prayer intention for this month was that Technology Should Benefit Everyone.

In my own encounters with Pope Francis, I was always inspired by his humility. I was in the Vatican the day that his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI resigned. A few months later I stayed in the same guest house where Pope Francis had returned to pay his own bill after being elected pope. I stayed there during first TEDx event held at the Vatican, where, while I was still at the Pew Research Center, I gave a TEDx talk on the rising tide of government and social restrictions impeding the free practice of every religion or belief in every country worldwide.

This rising tide of restrictions on religion and belief in all forms across the world led me to leave Pew in 2014 and start the RFBF with the mission to invite businesses to be part of the solution.

We have lost today a great champion not only for religious freedom and ethical business, but a man who was great because he lived out humbly the two greatest commandments that Jesus said sum up everything: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22: 37-40

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, workplaces faced unprecedented challenges, requiring them to become resilient and cultivate healthier, more honest cultures. Amidst this backdrop, Patrick Regan OBE embarked on a quest to rethink organisational wellbeing. Engaging in insightful conversations with leading experts across various disciplines, Patrick identified a pressing need for practical solutions that would empower organisations and their people. Brighter Days offers innovative training programs designed to address the evolving demands of the modern workplace.

With Patrick’s vision and expertise, Brighter Days has become a part of the solution, helping organisations and their people navigate uncertainty, develop resilience, and foster cultures that prioritise wellbeing and authenticity. We are reshaping the future of work, one brighter day at a time.

Patrick Regan OBE is an activist who is passionate about speaking on themes such as resilience, courage and wellbeing. He has founded two award-winning charities; XLP, a Schools and Community Charity which he ran for 22 years and pioneered Kintsugi Hope which has Wellbeing Groups all over the UK to help people in the area of their mental health. He is a mental health first aider, a campaigner on issues of social justice and was awarded an OBE for his services to young people by the late Queen Elizabeth II. He is an Honorary Fellow of the South Bank University for his contribution to Justice and Wellbeing and recently was awarded CEO of the year 2023 for mental health training.

Busch School of Business Dean Andrew Abela will keynote the first general plenary of Dare to Overcome 2025.

Each year, our most popular keynote has been by the Busch School’s Dean Andrew Abela. This year promises to be the best yet, as he unpacks the ancient yet modern secrets to a successful life (and business).

Everyone registered gets a free copy of his new book, Super Habits: The Universal System for a Successful Life.

Harvard’s Arthur C. Brooks says, “A rich blend of social science and ancient wisdom, Andrew Abela’s Superhabits shows how strengthening our virtues leads to well-being. This beautiful book is a must-read for anyone in pursuit of the better life.”

The Keynote Plenary will also include a special corporate panel to discuss the way forward in a changing environment.

Most corporate faith initiatives are situated in the People and Belonging departments of Fortune 500 companies. As these departments are undergoing transformations in response the changes in political environment, companies are finding the their faith initiatives can offer insights on the way forward.

The Keynote panel will wrap up with invitations from Dare to Overcome’s sponsors to attend their special sessions over the coming two days.

By Brian Grim

Glasgow, 23 April

On 23 April in Glasgow, Scotland, I’ll be presenting on best practices in creating workplaces that are faith-and-belief friendly, where everyone belongs. One effective way to achieve this is to give people of faith an official voice within their organisations through company-sponsored, employee-led, faith-oriented business resource groups (ERGs) and networks.

If you are in the area or have colleagues, they can register here to join us. The gathering is held at OVO’s beautiful downtown Glasgow offices and facilitated by Louise Bailey, Belonging Lead at OVO. Also speaking is Tim Macavoy, Head of Product, Radius Networks. Radius develops, connects and empowers employee networks around the world, maximising their potential and impact, wherever they are in their journey.

The event is convened by Business in the Community (BITC), the UK’s largest and most influential responsible business network, supported by His Majesty The King for over 40 years. BITC inspires, engages and challenges purposeful leaders to take practical action to mobilise their collective strength as a force for good in society.

Edinburgh, 24 April

On 24 April in Edinburgh, Daryl Watson, at trustee of the FoRB Foundation, is organising a series of meetings with Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) to discuss how business is a powerful force for building freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all.

Directly after the First Minister’s Questions (FMQs), we will have a lunch meeting with John Mason MSP, convener (chair) of the Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Freedom of Religion or Belief (CPG FoRB). Other MSPs joining the meeting include Murdo Fraser, deputy convener of CPG FoRB, and Stephen Kerr, a CPG FoRB member.

Last year we launched a report on this in Westminster with the All Party Parliamentary Group on International FoRB (APPG FoRB). I’m hoping the Scottish Parliament will be equally interested.

Dr Brian Grim will present the 2025 UK Faith-Friendly Workplace Awards to the most religiously accommodating workplaces in the UK, according to this year’s REDI Index. A record number of organisations have participated. Stay tuned for the results!

To join us in person on 29th April, register here.