The war for talent has been hitting the headlines since 2020. We know sought-after skills are hard to come by, but when you do find talent how do you ensure they stay?

When we design client’s sustainability strategy colleague retention often comes up as a challenge. Especially in specific industries. There isn’t a quick fix, if there was, we’d all be doing it. What Capgemini did was firmly prove DEI plays a critical role.

But before we share the case study let’s address the elephant in the room. DEI has been getting a hard time of late. “The big DEI backlash”. What is less reported is the thousands of businesses who are carrying on with DEI actions as always. Or that 30 of the largest businesses in the US have overwhelmingly voted to reject anti-DEI proposals in 2025.

The reason to stay focused is that DEI delivers commercial outcomes. The data speaks for itself. Companies with impactful DEI initiatives experience 50% reduction in employee turnover, 75% less sick days and 167% higher engagement scores. It’s a no-brainer. But still, we see leaders questioning the value.

So how does Capgemini help you build the business case for DEI?

Employee networks have been evolving at Capgemini for almost two decades. Capgemini have integrated employee networks into their DEI Strategy, knowing these groups support a culture of inclusion and belonging.

The networks which cover diverse groups including gender, disability, ethnicity and LGBTQ+, have resulted in improved collaboration and efficiency.

They have notably contributed to a 10% increase in retention across the global business.

But setting up a bunch of networks is not the solution. Where Capgemini got it right was in how they have supported and empowered their networks within the context of their broader strategy.

• Appointing a paid employee network lead to support and coordinate the networks at a Group level to reduce the burden on employee volunteers.
• Allocating budget to each network.
• Mapping network activities to each stage of the employee lifecycle to drive improvements for everyone.
• Positioning networks at the forefront of awareness raising campaigns, ensuring authentic, relatable voices are being heard.

There aren’t many businesses who wouldn’t benefit from a 10% improvement in retention. Retention leads to revenue. Business growth is impossible without people. The business case couldn’t be clearer.

At ENVOLV we support clients to build high impact DEI strategies and initiatives that result in tangible outcomes. We have supported businesses to build employee networks. Our leadership programmes are designed to build inclusive leadership capabilities through experiential learning that delivers results.

If you need support building your business case, designing your DEI strategy or to turn good intentions into tangible, commercial outcomes ENVOLV is ready. Drop us a line connect@envolv.co.uk