Talent not tokenism: Achieving the benefits of Equality and Diversity in the workforce

Our working environments are more diverse than ever before and that brings many tangible benefits. But how do you genuinely advance equality and tackle issues and tensions in the workforce, such as tensions between sexual orientation and faith? How do you deal with the ‘fear factor’ and how do you create an environment where staff feel confident to talk about E&D issues?

I am delivering a national event on behalf of Association of Colleges (AoC) on 11th December 2014 in London. This practical workshop takes a scenario-based approach to explore real-life workforce issues, challenges and solutions. It considers the practice of outstanding providers and reflects on outcomes from inspection.

Our communities are becoming more diverse. Immigrants have come to the UK for many years and the country is home to more people of different ethnic backgrounds and religious beliefs. Women and men work together in all areas of public life, are living longer and working longer. More people feel comfortable to be open about their sexual orientation.

If we are to reap the genuine benefits of working with a diverse workforce (and there are many genuine benefits – people are happier, more motivated and stay longer at organisations where E&D is at the heart of their core values), then we need to talk about the challenges in a more open and honest way.

This practical and engaging workshop takes a scenario-based approach to explore real-life workforce issues, challenges and solutions. It considers the practice of outstanding providers and reflects on outcomes from inspection. It will help equip you to tackle and resolve tensions and create a work environment that celebrates diversity and allows all to be treated with dignity and respect – staff, students and customers.

This event will help you to:

• understand what we mean by unconscious bias, the impact on working relationships and what we can do about it
• explore case studies and scenarios dealing with difficult and challenging situations and knotty issues
• consider what it might mean in practice to effectively eliminate discrimination, genuinely advance equality and foster good relations
• examine how to successfully integrate and embed E&D within the staff experience; recruitment, selection and induction for example.
• fully appreciate Ofsted expectations under the 2012 inspection framework from an HR perspective and contribute to a positive inspection outcome. 

It will also help you to recruit and retain a well-motivated and diverse workforce, avoid costly court action and be ‘inspection ready’ from an E&D and HR perspective.

You can see a programme, more information or register for the event here

Please note - the publicity and programme currently featured on the AoC website is incorrect. Correct inforamtion will appear by 10 Oct 2014