The Minority Ethnic Talent Association (META)

META was established to support ethnic minority staff who have the potential to advance to senior management or leadership level within the Civil Service.

Last updated - 12th January 2010

META

Established in 2006, META was founded with the aim of supporting talented staff of ethnic minority background to develop their potential and become leaders in the Civil Service. The goal of META is to support the Cabinet Office in increasing diversity at senior levels, as outlined in the strategy 'Promoting Equality, Valuing Diversity'.

Growing Talent

In 2007 the cross-Whitehall Growing Talent programme was launched by Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell and META's Patron, David Lammy MP. The programme is designed to foster the leadership potential of talented ethnic minority colleagues and equip them to succeed at a high level, through personal mentoring by senior civil servants and targeted development sessions, coaching and networking events. 

Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O’Donnell said:

“I am delighted to welcome the Growing Talent pilot, which I believe will contribute towards building a more diverse and professional Civil Service. Growing Talent will help participants towards becoming the leaders of tomorrow and will give them the opportunity to work with colleagues at the highest levels.”

META's Patron David Lammy MP said:

“We know instinctively as human beings that we tend to think and recruit in our own image. We tend to look at things from the perspective of what we feel comfortable and easy with. The challenge is to break out beyond that, to overcome some of the barriers that exist, and that's why this particular scheme is so important.”

In June 2009 Sir Gus O’Donnell, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service, presented the first graduates of the programme with their certificates at a prestigious graduation ceremony in Admiralty House, Whitehall.

David Lammy MP, META Patron	Claudette Sutton, META Chair & Programme Director