Equalities and Diversity in the Workplace
Empowering everyone to reach their full potential.
Employers have responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010. And, effectively managing the diverse profile of a workforce makes good business sense. Organisations that reflect the community they serve are better positioned to stay competitive and attract a broad customer base.
Explore the links below to access funding, support, and resources that can help you build inclusive and diverse workplace.
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This guide has been created by Skills Development Scotland to support you achieve a more inclusive recruitment process.
Inclusive recruitment refers to the strategies and practices designed to attract, interview, and hire a diverse range of talent. The goal is to minimize barriers and bias throughout the recruitment process, ensuring that the best candidates are selected based on merit, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, or any other protected characteristics.
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The Scottish Government is committed to addressing long-standing barriers in the labour market so that everyone - irrespective of gender, race or disability - has the opportunity to fulfil their potential.
Disabled Workers
Information about employment issues for disabled people is available from Inclusion Scotland and Scottish Union of Supported Employment (SUSE). There is a clear case for recruiting disabled employees, as it can:
Save your company time and money
Provide motivated employees who will be committed to your company
Improve morale and team working
Enhance your company’s reputation, both internally and with customers
Lead to innovation in products and services
Demonstrate corporate social responsibility
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Inclusion Scotland believes in and is founded upon the social model of disability, in that we are disabled by the barriers we face rather than our impairments themselves. Using the social model, Inclusion Scotland works to achieve positive changes to policy and practice, so that disabled people are fully included throughout all Scottish society as equal citizens.
The Inclusion Scotland Employers Hub provides information on the services and support for employers and disabled people to utilise in reducing the disability employment gap in Scotland.
You can post your vacancies on the Inclusion Scotland Jobs Board. You can also be part of the We Can Work Internship Programme. Businesses can also learn more about Disability Inclusion, access ‘Employerability’ training to help you to make real changes in your workplace to improve the employment, retention and promotion of disabled people, access employer tools including free templates and guides, learn more about Disabled People’s Right to Work and read blogs and testimonials.
Visit the Inclusion Scotland website.
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Anyone can become employed if they are motivated, given the right job and the right support. Supported Employment is a flexible and continuous process, designed to make that happen. BASE offers guidance to employers regarding disability and work.
Visit the BASE website.
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The mission of ENABLE Scotland is to create an equal society for every person with a learning disability.
For employers, ENABLE Scotland offers support to:
Get an introduction to disability awareness
Recruit and retain employees with a disability
Become an inclusive workplace
Get an introduction to Assistive Technology
Understand reasonable adjustments
Understand Autism Spectrum Disorder
Find accessible training provision
A specialist team at ENABLE Scotland will always support you to recruit the right person for your organisation and provide ongoing support to ensure the experience is a rewarding one, for both you and them.
Visit ENABLE Scotland website.
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Concept Northern provides assistive technology to help people in Scotland achieve their learning and vocational goals through individual-focused equipment solutions, guidance and support.
It can also provide a comprehensive support plan for staff with dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), hearing loss, visual impairment, mobility challenges and mental-health issues.
Visit Concept Northern website.
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The Scottish Union of Supported Employment (SUSE) is the national representative body for supported employment providers and anyone interested in ensuring that disabled people and those with long-term health conditions, across our country, have the opportunity of a working life.
Visit SUSE website.
LGBTQ+ Workers
Whether you are looking to make your policies LGBTQ+ inclusive or you want to learn how to empower senior leaders, there is help available.
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Stonewall Scotland has several free downloadable resources for employers, with step-by-step toolkits that will guide you on your way to supporting LGBTQ+ staff.
Visit Stonewall Scotland website.
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Scottish Trans provides high quality training to employers and service providers on trans equality, rights and inclusion good practice. It can provide short presentations, interactive one hour workshops, half day or full day structured training events and create innovative bespoke training packages on request.
Visit Scottish Trans.
Women Workers
According to Engender, women in Scotland earn less than men, depend more on the shrinking pot of social security, and are more likely than men to be members of the precarious workforce.
Additionally, 40% of low-paid workers are women working part-time. With work in Scotland characterised by seemingly intractable gender gaps, the time for bold action is now.
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This is an employer toolkit that provides businesses with practical strategies for attracting, retaining and promoting women in the hospitality and tourism industry.
Access the toolkit here.
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Close the Gap works with businesses on a confidential basis to provide support in identifying and addressing issues with pay and progression within organisations.
The Close Your Pay Gap Toolkit provides a range of guidance and advice to help employers calculate the gender pay gap and identify actions to reduce it.
Visit Close the Gap website here. Access the Close Your Pay Gap toolkit.
Ethnic Minorities
According to The Carnegie Trust, while employment rates among BME groups have been improving over the last few years, people from BME backgrounds are still twice as likely to be unemployed than white people and they are much more likely to be in low-paying occupations.
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The Scottish Government has published the Race Equality Framework for Scotland 2016 to 2030, which sets out its approach to promoting race equality and tackling racism and inequality between 2016 and 2030.
Radiant and Brighter published a report on Ethnicity and Diversity in the Scottish Workforce, which sought to understand what the barriers to true diversity are, as well as the impacts of any non-diverse workforces on Scotland’s prospective and actual employees. It outlines the level of challenge that exists for minority ethnic workers across workplaces in Scotland.
Employment can play a major part in addressing racial inequality. The gap in employment rate for the minority ethnic population in Scotland is consistently and persistently high.
Through fair working practice, minority ethnic workers will be able to access and sustain employment commensurate with their skills, experience and/or employment goals and in working environments that are diverse and inclusive. Employers should use the Minority Ethnic Recruitment Toolkit to improve the diversity of their workforce by recruiting more people from minority ethnic backgrounds.
Access the Minority Ethnic Recruitment Toolkit here.
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The Scottish Refugee Council framework guides and supports partner employers in recruiting candidates from a refugee background, allowing you to find the staff you need and helping refugee candidates to effectively show the skills they have to offer.
Visit the The Scottish Refugee Council website here.
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CEMVO Scotland is a strategic partner of the Scottish Government Equality Unit. It works strategically with public, statutory, and government agencies to tackle a range of prevalent issues such as race equality, social inclusion, capacity building and civic participation.
Visit the CEMVO website here.
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The DWP offers recruitment support, vacancy advertising and extensive advice services to help you grow and develop your business.
Access the DWP website here.
Workers of all ages
Positive relationships and diverse teams can generate creativity and innovation, helping to improve productivity, profits and business growth
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Age Scotland supports and enables employers to build inclusive, multi-generational workplaces. The Age Inclusive Workplaces programme delivers practical, evidence-based training on key topics - from age-inclusive leadership to menopause and age friendly customer service - boosting engagement, developing essential skills, and retaining valued talent.
Visit the Age Scotland website.
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IYS is Scotland’s leading charity for Black and People of Colour youth.
IYS also offers training and employer support to help workplaces build anti-racism into their workplace practices and procedures.
Visit the IYS website.
Fair Work in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry: Case studies
