Scotland – Civil Service Race Network

Scottish Government Race Equality Network (REN)

The Scottish Government's Race Equality Network (REN) is a community of Minority Ethnic staff across Scottish Government and related agencies.

Currently co-chaired by Tai McLennan and Dhruv Sharma, the REN was established in 2007 to be a Staff led network which promotes greater race equality through corporate practices and investing in the Minority Ethnic workforce. The Network and its many sub groups support the Scottish Government to deliver upon its commitments set out in the Scottish Government’s Race Recruitment and Retention Action Plan. Our aim is to co-produce and deliver a range of tailored Network and Corporate offers for Minority Ethnic colleagues. This is so all Minority Ethnic staff enjoy equal opportunities and successful careers working within the Scottish Government and related agencies.

Our successes to date include:

• Establishing a REN Buddy Support Scheme and piloting a REN Skills Hub to provide peer support • Nurturing Minority Ethnic talent through facilitating career conversations and development opportunities • Developing an ‘Engaging Minority Ethnic Communities’ resource pack and ‘A

Guide to Working in the Scottish Government’ to support recruitment, retention and progression • Building an active and supportive Race Allies Group to promote an anti-racist culture • Sharing personal lived experience through Focus Groups to ensure the

Minority Ethnic voice is heard • Instigating positive change through our Minority Ethnic Women’s Group and

Black Identity Group • Planning and delivering high quality and engaging events such as our Annual

REN Conference and Annual Black History Month

The REN will continue to build on our achievements by further exploring topics and issues related to race equality within the Scottish Government and related agencies. We will continue to provide mutual peer support for Minority Ethnic colleagues and be a base to provide feedback and suggestions for improvement based on the collective views of the REN’s membership.

To contact REN and or its sub groups, please email Race_Equality@gov.scot.

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