RACIAL equality chief Trevor Phillips has praised Southampton employers for actively nurturing a racially diverse workforce.

At a conference held for local businesses in the city the chairman of the influential Commission for Racial Equality said he was impressed with HSBC bank and motor giant Ford's ethnic recruitment policies.

Some of Southampton's biggest employers attended the conference, organised by Leader (Local Employers Acting on Diversity, Equality and Race).

A mix of public, private and large and small organisations attended the event at the St Mary's Stadium.

Phil Gibson, chairman of Leader, an umbrella group of employers from Southampton who work together to build a diverse workforce in the community, said: "It is clear that people from ethnic minorities are under-represented in higher-paid and more senior roles.

"Businesses need to realise that no longer can they not employ workers of other races. It's not legal, it's not good business sense and, above all, it doesn't make for a fair and just society.

"This conference aims to debate and discuss diversity issues and provides an opportunity for businesses to collaborate together and share ideas."

With over seven per cent of Southampton's population coming from ethnic minorities the need to create awareness among local businesses is great.

Around 11 per cent of school children in the city are also from ethnic minorities.

Mr Gibson said that one of Leader's main aims was to ensure that young people in schools and colleges have equal life chances and career choices - something they do not have at the moment.

As well as gaining a global and national perspective on diversity issues from Trevor Phillips, guests gleaned practical advice and support at local business level.

Hilary Wiseman, UK diversity manager for HSBC, said the bank promotes diversity through every stage of its employment system.

She said: "Diversity is top of the agenda for our business - it is not just a sideline. A diverse workforce helps us to do diverse business and get the best quality work from employees that we can."

Geoff Glover, human resources manager at the Ford Transit plant in Southampton, said the company was deeply committed to providing for a diverse workforce.

He said: "We have a diversity committee and plan. We are even getting staff to take part in a play which encapsulates Hampshire and the Isle of Wight's attitudes to diversity to make people think. We are helping other businesses to start on the journey of creating a more diverse workforce by sharing our experiences with them at this conference."