The Blueprint evaluation report: new research reveals diversity mark’s impact on people, culture and business
Friday 13 June 2025; London, UK: A new evaluation report on The Blueprint highlights the positive impact the diversity mark has had on awarded agencies and their employees since its launch in 2020.
Key quotes from Blueprint Leads interviewed anonymously as part of the evaluation include:
- “.. the whole journey of the last five years has been nothing short of transformative”
- “The overall culture has become even more open and inclusive”
- “I genuinely don’t know where I would be in my career if Blueprint hadn’t come along”
- “We attract clients who take D&I very seriously… Having the Blueprint on our website and pitch documents is a very easy shorthand for people to understand that this is something substantial.”
- “It has led us to far more ambitious and creative work… there is a greater recognition that it takes specifically a diverse team to do the best work.”
Furthermore, the evaluation revealed a significant impact on individual employees particularly those from Black, Asian, Mixed Race and Ethnic Minority backgrounds with 63% stating the diversity mark has had a positive impact on their career progression so far.
The evaluation, conducted in April 2025, also revealed the positive impact The Blueprint diversity mark has had on the awarded organisations’ reputations and client work with 79% reporting more inclusive client work being created after securing the mark, 75% noting improved organisation reputation and 75% also reporting positive client feedback on the award. Unsurprisingly, 79% of respondents stated they would be likely to recommend the diversity mark to another organisation.
The first evaluation on the diversity mark, conducted by independent research consultant Michael Ojo, employed a mixed-methods approach to gather comprehensive data on the impact of The Blueprint with individual experiences captured through qualitative methods, and trends across organisations captured through quantitative. The consistency of themes across different data sources and respondent groups strengthened the credibility of the findings.
The in-depth evaluation, the basis of a 90-page report, focused on organisations that have been Blueprinted for a minimum of three years and had gone through the reapplication process at least once.
Elizabeth Bananuka, Founder/CEO, The Pros Collective (formerly BME PR Pros & Blueprinted), said: “In the midst of so many articles quick to declare the death of DEI, I’m grateful to Michael Ojo’s independent evaluation report for highlighting the positive impact diversity, equality and inclusion policies and processes can have on an agency’s people, culture, reputation, and client work, and to the Blueprinted organisations who contributed to the report for their continued commitment to DEI. The report confirms what all of us working in DEI have known for a long time and we should, in these turbulent times, be proud to declare. Good DEI work, which is measurable and rooted in transparency and accountability, is good for business and everyone. I urge business leaders committed to DEI to read the report, continue to do great work, and, if not doing so already, consider applying for The Blueprint and joining the community of Blueprinted organisations committed to diversity, equality and inclusion. As you’ll see in Michael Ojo’s brilliant report, you, your colleagues and your clients, have a lot to gain.”
Michael Ojo, MSc,MCP,PMD Pro, PMP®, Research & Evaluation Consultant, said: “This evaluation has been a privilege to conduct because it documents something truly extraordinary: an industry in transformation. When I see that 87% of BME employees in Blueprint organisations feel genuinely included and valued, I’m not just looking at statistics – I’m seeing real people whose careers have flourished, whose voices are heard, and whose contributions are celebrated. These organisations have proven that meaningful change isn’t just an aspiration but an achievable reality. From small agencies making big impacts to established firms completely reimagining their cultures, Blueprint organisations are paving the way forward for the entire industry. What gives me the greatest hope is that this is just the beginning. Every Blueprint organisation started with a single decision to commit to change, and look at what they’ve achieved together. The evidence couldn’t be clearer: when we have the courage to act authentically on our values, when we commit to structured accountability, and when we support each other in this journey, we don’t just transform workplaces. We transform lives, we transform our industry, and we create the inclusive future the PR and Communications profession deserve”.
Nik Govier, Founder & CEO, Blurred, said: “This research shows what we at Blurred – and other Blueprinted agencies – have known for years, that when organisations truly embrace DEI as a central part of their strategy, it can be transformational. For our teams, for the work we put into the world, for our clients. We are better because of the Blueprint. And so is the industry.”
Launched in June 2020, The Blueprint diversity mark aims to promote racial diversity in PR and communications. Awarded agencies sign up to a series of commitments aimed at encouraging diversity from entry level to boardroom, from staff culture to recruitment and retention.
The Blueprint diversity mark has four application rounds a year and applications are judged by an independent panel who have taken part in a Blueprint diversity training workshop. The deadline for the next round of applications is midday on Thursday 4 September 2025. Application packs can be requested via the website.
The Blueprint evaluation report is available to download via The Pros Collective website. The Pros Collective is the new name for BME PR Pros and the new home for The Blueprint diversity mark, The Xec. leadership scheme, The Pros Awards and The Pros Conference aka Make Comms Great Again.
The current Blueprinted agencies are: Blurred; CCGroup, a Hoffman Agency; Cirkle; Harvard; Headland; Hope&Glory PR; Manifest; Riot Communications and Stronger Stories.