009 - Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Policy

Equality,Diversityand InclusionPolicy

1.Introduction

Equalopportunities,diversityandinclusionworktogetherbyaddressingtheinequalitiesand barriersfacedbypeopleinindividualgroupsandbyvaluing,learningandbenefitingfromthediverse culturesinsocietyandourstaff,whichwillfacilitateinclusion.

TheCompanyreferstoThinkEmploymentLtd.

2.EqualOpportunities

EqualOpportunitiesrelatetotreatingpeoplethesame,althoughtheymaybelongtocertain groups.EqualOpportunitiesinparticularrelatetoalegalframework,whichmakesitillegalto discriminateagainstpeoplebecauseoftheirage,gender,ethnicorigin,race,nationality,colourof skin,sexualorientation,genderreassignment,impairment(physical,sensoryorlearning),physical appearance,maritalorotherlifestatus,religiousorpoliticalbelief.

3.Diversity

Diversityisawiderconceptthatbuildsupontheprogressmadethroughequalopportunities Everyoneisdifferentanddiversityisaboutrecognising,respectingandvaluingthedifferenceswe eachbring.

4.Inclusion

Inclusionistheprocessofidentifying,understandingandbreakingdownbarrierstoparticipation andbelonging.Participationisaboutallowinglearnerstogivetheirviewsonourdelivery, contributingtothesessionsandinvolvingtheminthedesignofourprogrammes(throughtheir feedbackandsuggestions,forexample).Belongingisaboutthelearnersfeelingwelcomedtoour centre,eitherphysicallyorvirtually.

Inclusionislinkedtoequalityandtodiversityinthatfailingwithprovidingequalopportunitiesand ignoringdiversitywillinevitablymakethelearnersfeelexcluded.Byrespectingequalityand diversity,thelearnerswillfeelpartoftheCompany’senvironment.

5.EqualityAct2010

TheCompanywillstrivethroughadherencetothispolicy,nottodiscriminateagainstorinfavourof anymemberofstaff,applicantforemployment,client,visitororlearner.Wewillmeetrequirements aslaiddowninstatute,followingtheEqualityAct2010.

TheCompanyasacentreofadviceandlearningisproudtoprovideopenaccesstoall.Weare determinedtoensure:

thatwetreatindividualsfairly,withdignityandrespect thatweprovideasafe,supportiveandwelcomingenvironment–forstaff,forlearnersandfor visitors

InparticulartheCompanywilladheretotheprotectedcharacteristicsdescribedintheEqualityAct 2010nottodiscriminateagainstanyoneduetoaperson’s:

Age

Beingorbecomingatranssexualperson

Sexualorientation

Beingpregnantoronmaternityleave

Disability

Sex

Religion,belieforlackofreligion/belief

Beingmarriedorinacivilpartnership

Raceincludingcolour,nationality,ethnicornationalorigin

TheCompanywillnotacceptandactivelypromoteagainstanytypeofdiscrimination,including;

Directdiscrimination

Associativediscrimination

Discriminationbyperception

Indirectdiscrimination

Harassment

Victimisation

TheCompanywill:

Promotediversityinitslearnersandstaffbyrecognisingtheparticularcontributionstothe achievementoftheCompany’smissionthatcanbemadebyindividualswithawiderangeof backgroundsandexperiences;

Promoteandmaintainaninclusiveandsupportivestudyandworkenvironment,which confirmstherightsofindividualstobetreatedwithrespectandfairly,andaffordsopportunities tofulfiltheirpotential.

Tosupporttheseaims,theCompanywillensurethat,intheconductofallitsactivities,procedures areintroducedandimplementedthatminimisetheoccurrenceofinappropriatediscrimination, whetherdirectorindirect.Anydiscriminatorybehaviour,includingharassmentorbullying,by individualsorgroupswillberegardedextremelyseriouslyandcouldberegardedasgroundsfor disciplinaryaction,whichmayincludeexpulsionordismissal.

TheCompany,aspartofitscommitmenttopromotingequalityanddiversity,willcelebratethe promotionofBritishValuesinaninclusiveandsupportiveenvironmentforlearners,staffandothers closelyassociatedwithit,anditcommitsitselfto:

Promotingrace,equalityandgoodrelationsbetweenpeopleofdifferentracialgroupsinall areasofitsactivities.

Takingactiontopreventracialdiscrimination,includingracialharassmentandbullying,and ensurethatallstudents,staffandvisitorsaretreatedfairlyandwithrespect.

6.Statusofpolicy

Thispolicyformspartoftheformalcontractofemploymentforstaffandpartoftheformal agreementbetweenlearnersandtheCompany.AllmembersoftheCompanymustabidebythis policy–albeitthatthoseinseniorormanagerialpositionsorwithspecificresponsibilitiesfor recruitment,selection,training,appraisalandpromotionshouldbeespeciallymindfulofthepolicy–andanyfailuretocomplycouldresultindisciplinaryproceedings Training/Informationisdelivered toallstaffandlearnersatinductionandanyupdatesareincludedintrainingandcommunications throughouttheyear

AlllearnersandvisitorstotheCompany,togetherwiththosecontractedtoworkatorforThink EmploymentLtd,willbeexpectedtocomplywiththispolicy

7.CorporateResponsibility

ResponsibilityforensuringthattheCompanymeetsitslegalobligationsinrespectoflegislation relatingtoequalopportunitiesrestswiththeManagingDirector.Inpractice,however,the managementoftheseobligationsisdelegatedtotheseniorleaders.

7.1ResponsibilitiesoftheCompany’sindividualmembers

InordertoensurethattheEquality,DiversityandInclusionPolicyisputintopractice,the Company’sindividualmembers:

shouldseekactivelytopromoteequalityofopportunityforothersandstrivetocreatean environmentinwhichindividualgoalsmaybepursuedwithoutfearorintimidation mustnotdiscriminateunfairlyinthewaytheyprovideorprocureservicesonbehalfofthe Company mustnotdiscriminateunfairlyifinvolvedinrecruitment,promotionandmanagementofstaffor inthesupervisionoflearners mustnotencourageotherstafforlearnerstopractiseunfairdiscriminationorharassment, mustnotvictimiseanypersonwhohascomplainedofharassmentorunfairdiscrimination,or whohavegiveninformationinconnectionwithsuchacomplaint

8.Reportingofanyincidences

Shouldyoufeelyouhavebeentreatedunfairly,pleasecontactacentrestaffmemberinthefirst instanceandfollowtheorganisation’sComplaints&PraisePolicy,whichisavailableineachlearning centre.

Employeesshouldraiseanyconcernswiththeirlinemanagerinthefirstinstance.

9.Reviewofthepolicy

ASeniorLeaderwillreviewthispolicyannuallyormorefrequentlywheretherearesignificantchanges incircumstances.

Authorised by: Head of Quality Chair of Governance

Amendments:

Sept 2018 - Updated

Dec 2018 – Layout amended and Introduction and ‘clarification’ included Addition of British Values Dec 2019 – No changes

Nov 2020 – Changed Think Employment Ltd to the Company; added inclusion Nov 2021 – Added inclusion in the introduction and changed 6.1 to 7.1

Dec 2022 - Changed Equality and Diversity Policy to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy Dec 2023 - Replaced "Senior Manager" with "Senior Leader"