Omolola O. Olaleye
Email: o.o.olaleye@qmul.ac.uk
Project title
Exploring Diversity in Apprenticeships: Key Actors, Organisational Practices and the Lived Experiences of Racially Minoritised Apprentices in England
Project description
Lola's recently completed doctoral research project addressed the underrepresentation of racially minoritised young people in apprenticeships in England, despite government commitments to increase their participation by 20% by 2020.
Through interviews with policy makers, employer representatives, and racially minoritised apprentices, combined with document analysis, this study examined how race intersected with apprenticeship experiences across three levels: government policy, employer practices, and individual experiences.
Key findings revealed that apprenticeship diversity initiatives primarily focused on socioeconomic factors whilst sidelining race. Most employers lacked targeted strategies to address racial inequalities, often defaulting to "race-neutral" approaches or rhetoric about "hiring the best." For young people, financial considerations and family expectations significantly influenced their apprenticeship decisions, whilst workplace experiences were often marked by racial marginalisation that intersected with gender, age, and faith.
This research project contributed new insights to diversity management scholarship and offered evidence-based recommendations for policymakers and employers seeking to create more racially inclusive apprenticeship programmes.
Supervision
1st Supervisor: Professor Gill Kirton
2nd Supervisor: Dr Elena Doldor
Biography
Lola is an early career researcher whose research interests lie at the intersection of organisational diversity practices and young people's workplace experiences. Her work examines diversity management discourse and its practical implementation in organisations and for individuals.
Alongside research, Lola has extensive experience teaching undergraduate management modules such as Human Resource Management and Work and Employment at Russell Group business schools, including Bayes Business School and Queen Mary, University of London. Prior to her doctoral studies, she worked in HR within the non-profit sector.
Lola holds a Master's degree (with Distinction) in International Employment Relations & Human Resource Management from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor's degree (First Class Honours) in Business Management from Queen Mary, University of London. She also holds a Certificate in Learning and Teaching at Queen Mary with Associate Fellowship status of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA).
Centre and Group Membership
PhD Candidate of the Centre for Research in Equality and Diversity (CRED)
Teaching and Membership
- Member - Academy of Management
- Member - British Academy of Management
Publications
McGurk, P. and Olaleye, O. (2023) 'Skills, Apprenticeships and Diversity: Employer Engagement with Further and Higher Education' in Ingold, J. & McGurk, P. (eds.) Employer Engagement: Making Active Labour Market Policies Work. Bristol University Press.
Articles
“It’s not enough just to hire apprentices from different backgrounds, they also need to belong”. A blog post to be published on the Queen Mary University of London website