EQUAL

EQUAL Equality and Diversity Practitioners Project

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) led a project to explore the infrastructure associated with equality and diversity practice across all sectors (including private, public and voluntary). The project was part of the broader 'High Roads' activity spearheaded by the TUC using funding from the European Social Fund (ESF) EQUAL programme. As the project has now drawn to a close with the ceasing of EQUAL funding at the end of 2007, the LSC will have no ownership of any further work in this area.

As the LSC’s Single Equality Scheme demonstrates, we place equality and diversity at the heart of our responsibilities. We are committed to championing equality and diversity and to demonstrating best practice both in the work we do and as an employer. This project therefore gave the LSC a welcome opportunity to research new and innovative ideas for improving the infrastructure for equality and diversity practitioners.

The final report builds on a number of pieces of consultation and research throughout the project, including The development of an equality and diversity competency framework ‘success through diversity report’ produced for London LSC, a feasibility research study and extensive quantitative and qualitative research including a survey of over 500 equality and diversity practitioners. It was launched at an event held at the House of Commons on 17th December 2007, with speakers including David Lammy MP, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Skills; Phil Willis, the Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson; and Kay Allen from the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

The research shows that the practitioners we spoke to believe that there is currently a gap in the support available to them in developing their skills and effectively championing equality and diversity. However, the proposed competency framework and models for an association present a positive vision that we believe practitioners can build upon to establish an infrastructure to support new development and career progression.

As the project has now closed, any further information and developments will be available at Equal Works.