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Equality
 Boost your business by making it fair for everyone
What's the Point?  Living Proof  How to do it
 How to get started in a small way
  • Be sure you understand the legal requirements for equal opportunities and non-discrimination.
  • Develop a policy towards equal opportunities, covering all elements of equality (sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, age, religion, union membership and belief).
  • Talk to staff about how things are working in practice and encourage them to raise with you any examples of unfairness or disadvantage.
  • Bring your recruitment, employment and training procedures into line with your policy.
  • Consider how your organisation can gain from being known as an equal opportunities employer - perhaps encouraging applications from underrepresented groups?
  • Consider what changes such as flexible working will help people with particular needs.
  • Set some targets, so that you and your staff have a clear idea of what can be achieved and by when.
  • Train managers and employees on equal opportunities.
 Who can help you to go further?

National Help / Online Help

Government Commissions on equality and human rights can give advice: The Equality and Human Rights Commission advises on sex discrimination. www.eoc.org.uk.

www.equalitydirect.org.uk Equality Direct is designed for business managers and gives advice on a range of equality issues. Helpline is 08456 00 34 44.

www.acas.org.uk The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) advises on avoiding disputes through good practice. The helplines are 0845 747

4747 and textline on 0845 606 1600.

www.employers-forum.co.uk  The Employers Forum on Disability is Britain’s only national employers organisation concerned exclusively with the training and employment of people with disabilities.

www.agepositive.gov.uk  Age Positive promotes age diversity in employment. It provides guidance, facts and figures and case studies on employing the over 50s.

www.fpb.co.uk The Forum of Private Business has developed an employment guide with the TUC which includes diversity issues. Contact them at mis@fpb.co.uk.

Local Help

 Check with your local Chamber of Commerce or Business Link organisation for business networks in your area. www.chamberonline.co.uk (click “find your

chamber”) or www.businesslink.gov.uk (England) www.bgateway.com (Scotland) www.businesseye.org.uk (Wales) www.investni.com (Northern Ireland).

 It's Common Sense

 

This briefing paper is one of 20 individual +points that make up The Journey - a route map designed to help you build a business that people value. You need only do one if you like. It's your journey. It doesn't have to be time-consuming or complicated. It's basically common sense.
 Download the how-to guide in Full
 Each 'How-To' briefing is available in pdf or word formats. To read the PDF document with a screen reader please link to the Access Adobe website which provides useful tools and resources. Adobe also has a free online conversion tool for PDFs.
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The Practice Journey
© Small Business Consortium 2008