McPhail Watmore Associates Ltd
Unconscious Bias Training
We all have bias. That is the starting point, not an accusation.
Our unconscious bias training explores where bias comes from, how it shapes the decisions you make at work, and what you can put in place to control it so that your employment and service decisions are fairer and better.
Unconscious bias is the set of views and assumptions we hold without being aware of them, shaped by our background, culture and personal experience. It is a natural human evolutionary trait, our brains take shortcuts to process information quickly. That served us well once. In modern working life it often does not, because those same shortcuts influence who we hire, who we promote, whose ideas we listen to, and who we might inadvertently exclude from the services we deliver.
And equally, who might you be inadvertently losing or excluding from the service you provide.
If you employ people, or provide a service, this session is for you.
Does unconscious bias training work?
This is a fair question, and it deserves an honest answer. The evidence is clear that awareness on its own does not change behaviour. The Equality and Human Rights Commission's own review of the research found that while training reliably raises awareness of bias, the evidence that it changes what people actually do is limited, and the British Psychological Society has noted that poorly designed training can even create an illusion of progress.
That is exactly why we do not stop at awareness. Understanding your own bias is the beginning of the session, not the end of it.
What makes the difference
Identifying your own triggers, recognising when you are most likely to act on bias, and putting structures and processes in place that control for it at the point decisions get made.
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Awareness tells you the problem exists. Structures are what change the outcome.
That is also why we deliver this as a facilitated session rather than a module you click through. The research points to the same conclusion, the interventions that combine awareness with practical tools are the ones that shift anything at all.
What our unconscious bias training covers
The session takes a non judgemental approach throughout, because defensiveness is the enemy of learning here.
- Where unconscious bias comes from, and why it is a normal feature of how the brain works
- How bias influences decisions in employment and in service delivery
- Identifying bias in yourself and recognising it in others
- Your own triggers, and the conditions in which you are most likely to display bias
- The structures and processes that control bias at the point of decision
- Practical actions you can take back to your team, your policies and your practice
Bias in employment and service delivery
Most unconscious bias training treats this as an employment issue. It is not only an employment issue. If your organisation delivers a service, bias shapes who you reach, who you retain, and who quietly falls away without ever telling you why.
We cover both. How might your biases be playing out in recruitment, promotion and performance decisions. And equally, who might you be inadvertently losing or excluding from the service you provide. For organisations in the public sector, or providing services of a public nature, that second question carries real weight, and it is one most training never asks.
What our clients say
“
I had a great day yesterday, and learnt so much!
I will be meeting with our managers all next week, and I am sure that their learning will influence how we move forward.
Thank you for your energy and commitment.
Chief Officer
Age UK Torbay
“
The training on the day both myself and HR Director, were pleased to find it engaging and practical, with clear and relatable hospitality specific examples aligned to the law.
Assistant Learning & Development Manager, People and Culture
Four Seasons
“
Experience was really good – workshop activities made me think of things that would impact me – all topics were enjoyable
Employee
Redbridge Council
Trusted by organisations across
Higher Education•
NHS•
Government•
Finance•
Legal•
Housing•
Charity
Who this training is for
This session is suitable for anyone who employs people or provides a service, at any level. It works well as organisation wide awareness, and it works particularly well for those making the decisions where bias does most damage, hiring managers, recruitment panels, promotion and appraisal decision makers, and service designers.
We work with organisations across the UK in the public and private sector, including higher and further education, the NHS, national and local government, finance, legal and professional services, housing and the charity sector.
Our approach and credentials
All of our training is bespoke. We take time to understand your organisation, your sector and the decisions your people actually make, then build the session around examples they will recognise. Sessions can be delivered in person or online.
Our consultants are experienced practitioners drawn from the public and private sector. McPhail Watmore Associates was established in 2000, and our founder Fiona McPhail is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD with 30 years' experience in HR and equality, diversity and inclusion. You can read more about our team on our About page.
Established 2000
Over 25 years of training and consultancy
Chartered FCIPD
Founder led, 30 years' experience
Charter assessors
Investors in Diversity, Disability Confident Level 3
Seven consultants
Public and private sector practitioners
Frequently asked questions
What is unconscious bias?
Unconscious bias is the views and assumptions we hold without being aware of them, formed by our background, culture and experience. It is a normal function of how the brain processes information quickly. It becomes a problem when those shortcuts influence decisions about people, in employment or in service delivery.
Does unconscious bias training work?
Awareness alone does not change behaviour, and the research is honest about that. What works is combining awareness with practical tools and structures that control bias at the point decisions are made. That is how we build the session, so it ends with actions rather than insight.
Is this training for managers or all staff?
Both. The session suits anyone who employs people or provides a service. It is often commissioned organisation wide, and it is especially valuable for hiring managers, recruitment panels and anyone making promotion or appraisal decisions, where the cost of unchecked bias is highest.
How is the training delivered?
In person or online, whichever suits your organisation. Every session is tailored to your sector and to the decisions your people make, rather than delivered from a standard script. Get in touch and we will talk through what would work for you.
Talk to our team
Whether you want to book a session or discuss what would work best for your organisation, get in touch to discuss your training needs.