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