Natalie Simmonds-Alleyne, representing Birmingham Metropolitan College (BMet)—a leading further education institution serving around 10,000 students and employing over 1,000 staff—has been a driving force in advancing DEI within one of the UK’s most dynamic educational environments.
The problem
Birmingham Metropolitan College (BMet) identified significant challenges in promoting inclusivity and equity within its educational environment. The college faced an underrepresentation of individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds in leadership positions, with only 10% of leadership roles occupied by ethnically diverse staff during the 2022-23 academic year.
Additionally, the existing curriculum did not adequately reflect the diverse cultural and ethnic identities of the student body, and there were inconsistencies in addressing reports of racism across campuses. These issues underscored the need for a comprehensive approach to foster anti-racism, create inclusive curricula, and improve staff recruitment processes to address diversity imbalances.
The solution
In response to these challenges, Natalie Simmonds-Alleyne, tutorial development manager at BMet, spearheaded several initiatives aimed at promoting inclusivity and equity:
- Tutorial Elements Programme (TEP): Natalie developed and implemented the TEP, a curriculum designed to reflect the diverse cultural and ethnic identities within the college community.
- BMet BAME Network: As deputy chair and a founding member of the BMet BAME Network, established in 2018, Natalie played a crucial role in integrating racial equality and anti-racist pedagogy into staff development.
- Staff and student mentorship programmes: Recognising the importance of guidance and support, Natalie contributed to the design and implementation of coaching and mentorship programmes for both staff and students. This includes the BMet BAME Supported Leadership Programme (2019), aimed at increasing employment and leadership opportunities for BAME staff, and the Realise BAME Mentoring Programme (2021), developed to address academic underperformance and low attendance among BAME students.
- Inclusive recruitment processes: Natalie advocated for student involvement in recruitment processes and worked to raise staff awareness of racial and cultural literacy.
The results
Natalie’s initiatives have led to substantial progress at BMet. The proportion of individuals from underrepresented ethnic groups in leadership positions increased from 10% to 20% during the 2022-23 academic year, reflecting a significant improvement in diversity at the leadership level. The anti-racist curriculum she designed through the TEP has now reached 5,000 students, with Black British History becoming a compulsory element, ensuring that students receive a more representative education.
The emphasis on inclusive recruitment processes and increased cultural literacy among staff has led to higher satisfaction levels among both staff and students. As a result of these efforts, BMet has been recognised as a leading institution in promoting anti-racism in the West Midlands. The college has gained recognition and accolades, including multiple nominations and awards, with the BMet BAME Staff Network receiving the prestigious Evenfields Black Talent Award for an employee resource group in 2023.
The information contained within this resource was accurate at the time of its publication. This article was created in May 2025.