Forget Bias Workshops — Invest in Behavioural Training Instead
Awareness is not the same as action. Real change happens when people do things differently — not just when they learn new ideas.
For years, unconscious bias workshops were seen as the best way to build fairer workplaces. They helped people see their biases — but they didn’t always change how people behave. Many companies are now asking:
“If awareness doesn’t change behaviour, what actually does?”
That’s where behavioural training comes in. Instead of focusing on thoughts in a single session, it helps people build everyday habits — how they give feedback, make hiring decisions, or lead team meetings. It doesn’t just point out bias; it rewires behaviour.
“Because awareness isn’t behaviour. And if inclusion is to last, training must shape what people do, not just what they see.”
— Sidestream
“Because awareness isn’t behaviour. And if inclusion is to stick, training has to shape what people do, not just what they see.”
Behavioural Training: Turning Small Actions into Lasting Habits
Traditional training often tells people to “think differently,” but that doesn’t always lead to action. Behavioural training flips the idea — it focuses on what people actually do each day.
Think about:
How a manager gives feedback after a tough meeting
How a team challenges a poor idea respectfully
How a hiring panel makes decisions when under time pressure
These small, everyday moments decide whether bias grows or gets stopped. By repeating better actions over time, behavioural training helps teams make fairness and inclusion a daily habit.
Why UK Organisations Are Making the Shift
Across the UK, many organisations — from government departments to law firms and tech companies — are rethinking their diversity and inclusion programmes. They’re moving away from one-off bias workshops and adopting behavioural programmes that are practical, measurable, and long-lasting.
A joint report from the the Government Equalities Office and the Behavioural Insights Team found that traditional unconscious bias training often fails to create real behavioural change. In some cases, it even reinforced stereotypes when participants felt that bias couldn’t be changed.
That’s why the UK government has started phasing out unconscious bias training in the public sector — encouraging organisations to use more evidence-based, behaviour-driven methods instead.
This shift doesn’t mean Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is being ignored — it’s being upgraded. Modern DEI is about what people do, not just what they know.
According to People Management (2025), UK businesses are moving away from “tick-box” diversity exercises and focusing instead on measurable behaviours that make inclusion part of everyday culture.
In short, inclusion is no longer a workshop — it’s a way of working.
How Sidestream Drives Real Change
At Sidestream UK, we turn inclusion from a theory into a practice. Our Behavioural Training Programme is designed to make real change visible in daily actions — from leadership to team collaboration.
Here’s how it works:
Diagnostics – We start by identifying the key challenges and habits within your teams.
Experiential Labs – Participants practise real-life workplace situations and learn how to respond fairly, calmly, and confidently.
Manager Coaching – Leaders are trained to reinforce positive habits and model the right behaviours.
Habit Kits – Practical tools that help employees turn new behaviours into daily routines.
Each step builds on the last, creating lasting results — faster decisions, clearer communication, and more inclusive teams that don’t just talk about fairness, but live it.
See our workshop playbooks.
