Equal Opportunities Policy

We aim to be an equal opportunities employer and undertake to apply objective criteria to assess merit. Our objective is to encourage, value and manage equality & diversity and demonstrate our commitment to equality for all. We aim to act in good faith and in an equitable manner with employees and potential employees and as a result earn a good reputation for excellence in the communities in which we are located and in which we operate by providing opportunities for employment for all sections of those communities.

We will work hard to ensure that the diversity of its workforce is considered as a valuable source of talent and skill. We encourage, values and manages diversity for all and will vigorously enforce this Policy and compliance with the principles of relevant legislation i.e. Equality Act (2010).

We will actively recruit from all sectors of the community and will seek to ensure wherever possible that the composition of its workforce reflects the diversity of the communities in which it operates.

We are committed to promoting and establishing a working environment which embraces diversity and equality. This commitment encompasses those within our Organisation, our customers/clients, suppliers and members of the public with who we come into contact during the course of our work-related duties.

Accordingly, Management will ensure that recruitment, selection, training, development and promotion procedures result in no job applicant or worker receiving less favourable treatment on the grounds of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, disability, trade union membership or non-membership, sex, pregnancy/maternity, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, married or civil partnership status, age, or being a part-time or fixed term worker.  The objective is to ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and otherwise treated solely on the basis of their relevant aptitudes, skills and abilities.

Wherever possible, vacancies will be advertised as widely as possible, such as internal Intranet, recruitment service providers, local and national press, technical publications, job centres and educational establishments. All external job advertisements will clearly confirm in the text that we are an Equal Opportunity employer and that it actively seeks applications from all sections of and ethnic groups within the community.

Job descriptions will include details of the main requirements of the job and will be objective and job related.

Our workforce and applicants for employment should not be disadvantaged by any policies or conditions of service which cannot be objectively justified as necessary for operational purposes.

We will not accept discrimination by association or perception. Associative Discrimination occurs when an individual is discriminated against “on the grounds of association” with a person who possesses a protected characteristic as listed above. Discrimination by perception is discrimination against an individual because it is thought they possess a particular protected characteristic, irrespective of whether this is correct.

Victimisation is when someone suffers a detriment that is in retaliation for their involvement in bringing, or supporting, a complaint of discrimination. This is not acceptable behaviour.

Management has the primary responsibility for successfully meeting these objectives by:

• not unlawfully discriminating in the course of employment against workers, job applicants, or anyone else within the working environment;
• not inducing or attempting to induce others to practise unlawful discrimination;
• bringing to the attention of employees that they will be subject to action under the Disciplinary Procedure for unlawful discrimination of any kind; and taking action if they become aware of any form of unlawful discrimination;

You can contribute by:

• not unlawfully discriminating against fellow workers, customers, suppliers or members of the public with whom you come into contact during the course of your duties;
• not inducing or attempting to induce others to practise unlawful discrimination; and reporting any unlawful discriminatory action to a Director or the HR Manager;

The successful achievement of these objectives requires the active contribution from everyone, and you should report any unlawful act of discrimination you are aware of.

If you consider that you are a victim of unlawful discrimination, please raise the issue through the Grievance Procedure.

Disabled Persons

It is our policy not to discriminate against disabled persons whether in, or applying for, employment. We actively encourage and assist in the employment, training or retraining and career development of disabled persons whenever possible.

To achieve this policy, the following procedures must be applied:

All applicants for vacancies within our Organisation are considered on their merit, and people with disabilities possessing the minimum criteria for any vacancy will be short-listed for interview.

Disabled applicants for employment will not be considered less favourably than those without disabilities, except where there is a substantial reason preventing employment.  Questions will not normally be asked about health, unless the nature of the job requirements identifies that such questions about health are intrinsic to the job requirements, or it is necessary to allow reasonable adjustments.

Consideration will be given to making reasonable adjustments, where practicable, to the workplace and to methods of working, to accommodate disabled workers.  In order to be able to do this, you have a responsibility to make us aware if you have any impairments or conditions, which may constitute a disability under the terms of the Act.  If you develop a serious health condition, you should advise your Manager of any reasonable adjustments to your working conditions, or the nature of your job which you believe could assist you in the performance of your duties.

If you have caring responsibilities associated with a dependant disabled person, then you should advise us so that we can better understand your personal situation and needs.

If you become disabled either physically or mentally, whether through accident, illness or injury, reasonable adjustments to your job or working environment will be considered/made in order to, whenever possible, retain you in employment.

Age Equality

We will provide a working environment free from discrimination on the grounds of age, and recognise the valuable contributions made by staff of all ages.  Many details of this policy relate to older staff, as they are the ones most likely to experience age discrimination, but we will seek to fulfil our duty of care to all workers, irrespective of age.

Dates of birth will only be used for monitoring purposes, or to comply with any specific legal requirement, or other external justifiable requirement.

All employees shall have equal rights to training, promotion and other aspects of career development.  Age will not be used to justify a failure to promote or train any employee.

Commitment to Trans-Equality

We are committed to equality of opportunity for trans-people throughout recruitment and employment, including supporting trans-employees through any transitioning process.  We will not tolerate discrimination, victimisation or harassment on the basis of a person’s gender identity, gender expression or trans-status. We seek to provide a supportive environment for trans-employees, and to create a culture and environment where trans-employees are able to thrive and are well supported during any process of transition.

Monitoring

We will periodically complete reviews with and seek advice from, organisations or bodies with responsibility for the promotion of equality in the workplace, such as the Equality and Human Rights Commission in order to measure the effectiveness of its approach to promotion of and compliance with equal opportunities.

We will continuously monitor the effectiveness of its Equal Opportunities Policy. Where such monitoring shows that the composition of the workforce is inappropriately disproportionate with respect to one or more ethnic or nationality group and to the diversity of the communities in which it operates, the company will wherever possible take affirmative action to target recruitment within ethnic and other minority groups in the community and seek to redress the imbalance.

We welcome feedback and use it as a positive tool to improve business performance.