Hiring staff from culturally diverse backgrounds can be a boon for businesses, a group of entrepreneurs say.

Diversity in a workforce can bring fresh ideas and new ways of working and access to a wider range of customers, they say.

And research shows people new to Australia are usually highly motivated, entrepreneurial and keen to succeed in their new roles.

Cathy Caruso of Concept Caravans, based in Campbellfield in Melbourne’s north, says 90 per cent of her staff are from diverse backgrounds. She found many of them through migrant and refugee settlement agency AMES Australia.

“They are reliable workers and are motivated to do well. Most of our diverse staff have no previous experience in this industry but they adapt well,” Ms Caruso said.

“We find them keen to succeed and to get on and build new lives and buy houses,” she said.

Marketing business owner Tony Healey says hiring staff from culturally diverse backgrounds had broadened his customer base and opened new markets.

“Having diverse staff on board has brought new ways of thinking and led to new business opportunities,” Mr Healey said.

“We recently secured a contract with a customer in Singapore, thanks to the contacts of one of our new staff.

“Having a diverse staff makes out workplace more interesting and vibrant, which flows on to staff satisfaction and engagement and also business success,” he said.  

Research by consultants McKinsey shows a diverse workplace is good for a businesses’ bottom line. Companies with a diverse workforce are 35 per cent more likely to experience greater financial returns than their respective non-diverse counterparts, the McKinsey research says.

And companies with greater diversity are 70 per cent more likely to capture more markets and 1.7 times more innovative, the research says.

But many employers do not embrace diversity.

The McKinsey research shows that diverse teams are better at making decisions 87 per cent of the time over non-diverse teams. Diverse teams offer broader perspectives and bring more information to the table.

Teams outperform individuals when making decisions and that improves as diversity increases, it says.

And companies or organisations with diverse teams are better able to meet the needs of a diverse customer base.

Author and career coach Ashley Stahl says a team that has a variety of worldview perspectives can educate employees and clients and reach untapped customer demographics.

Ms Stahl says diverse teams boost creativity and innovation.

“Diversity has been shown to boost creativity, and it’s no secret that companies are always looking for the next big thing. In my experience, that dynamite idea usually comes from thinking outside-the-box. When people come from different backgrounds, have a variety of life experiences, and see the world in unique ways, multiple perspectives are brought to the table,” she said.

“The great part about that is, creativity comes naturally when you have diversity.

“People from a variety of backgrounds offer a handful of solutions, rather than one uninspired solution which is based on the same cultural voice. Diverse teams naturally eliminate the standard approach to problem solving,” Ms Stahl said.

She said workplace diversity also creates greater 0pportunities for professional growth.

“Companies that embrace ideas and practices from different perspectives create an inclusive culture where the employees become ambassadors for the company. Internal company advocacy attracts talented, ambitious, and diverse professionals,” Ms Stahl said.

“Research shows 64 per cent of candidates research a company online before applying for a job and one in three will not apply for a position at a company that lacks diversity.

“Diverse teams can be professionally enriching as teammates are exposed to new skills and approaches to work. Additionally, colleagues have the opportunity to develop international networks,” she said.

“Naturally, teammates will learn about each other’s cultures. This leads to a broader understanding of the world on a much deeper level, which in turn, filters different perspectives into their own thinking, creating new thoughts and ideas. Unique ways of thinking and ideologies aid in decision-making, brainstorming, and boost workplace etiquette.”