Norwegian ad industry unveils new guidance to diversity strategy and recruitment

The Norwegian Association of Advertisers (ANFO), together with other industry associations Grafill (visual communication professionals), Kommunikasjonsforeningen (communications professionals), Kreativt Forum (creative agencies) and Mediebyråforeningen (media agencies), have published two new guides to help companies and organisations create their diversity strategy and recruit diverse talent during a hybrid event in Oslo in September.

The new guidance is a result of Norwegian industry associations’ joint industry initiative formed in 2020 to make the Norwegian ad industry more diverse. The group has been focused on helping improve ethnic diversity in the advertising workforce, but is also looking at other areas including gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age and more.

ANFO CEO Jan Morten Drange said: “As an industry, we are working overtime to address this topic. There is broad agreement that we need greater diversity and a more inclusive working life... We hope and believe that through a joint industry initiative we can contribute with measures that make it easier for companies and individuals to create change in the workplace.”

In the guide to diversity strategy, industry associations emphasised on how having a diversity and inclusion strategy in place should be an integral part of the business strategy. It includes seven tips for success based on existing checklists, best practices and input from diversity experts in the industry, as well as five proposed questions to help companies start working on their strategy.

In the guide to diversity recruitment, the authors highlighted how recruitment is critical in achieving a diverse industry which then leads to an increase in value and growth at all levels, but recognised how this can be challenging for smaller companies that have limited resources to have a dedicated HR department or HR managers. It includes guidelines and a checklist of steps companies can take before, during and after the recruitment process.

For more information, contact ANFO.