Working with Equality Organisations

We are affiliated with, or members of, or have subscriptions with a number of equality organisations and networks. These relationships enable the University to benchmark, to obtain specialist advice, and to keep up to date with equality initiatives and developments in the higher education sector and beyond.

Our current relationships with equality organisations include:

• National Diversity Awards
  We are inaugural sponsors of the National Diversity Awards, which recognises the achievements of community organisations and individuals who are challenging inequalities in society.
• Athena Swan
  Athena Swan is the charter that recognises commitment to advancing women’s careers in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine. We joined the charter in 2011 and achieved an Institutional Bronze Award in 2013, 2016 and 2021.
• Equality Challenge Unit
  The Equality Challenge Unit is the higher education sector body, providing research, information and guidance across the UK. We contribute to the development of research, policy and guidance and share our practice and resources through ECU networks.
• Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
  We work closely with the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland in developing our Equality Scheme and reporting annually on our performance and progress.
• Business Disability Forum
  We are members of the Business Disability Forum, previously the Employers’ Forum on Disability, giving us access to resources, information and guidance on all aspects of disability in employment.
• Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion
  We are members of the Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion, the UK’s leading employer network covering all aspects of equality and inclusive issues in the workplace. Membership gives us access to research, best practice advice, and training and consultancy services.
• Gender Information, Research and Education Society
  We work with the Gender Information, Research and Education Society to develop policy, procedures and training that ensure transgender people experience dignity and respect in the workplace and in all study environments.
• Opportunity Now
  We are founder members of the gender equality organisation, Opportunity Now. This gives us access to benchmarking, research and case studies from other organisations.
• Runnymede
  We are subscribers to Runnymede, the UK’s leading independent race equality think tank.
• Stonewall Diversity Champion
  We are Stonewall Diversity Champion, giving us access to advice from the Workplace team, benchmarking through the Workplace Equality Index, and access to good practice seminars and the Starting Out Careers Guide.
• Shap Working Party on World Religions in Education
  We are subscribers to the Shap Working Party on World Religions in Education, and use their Calendar of Religious Festivals to develop our own calendar for planning purposes.