Equality, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing

Every aspect of our University is committed to promoting equality and diversity through inclusion. We understand that in order to thrive at work, inclusion engenders a sense of belonging and we recognise that wholeness at work is key to engagement and high performance.

We encourage and enable our staff to celebrate the richness of their diversity, participating in staff networks, contributing to awareness raising and role modelling practices and behaviours consistent with our values.

Throughout the year, we hold multiple events that champion equality, diversity, and inclusion; such as International Women’s Day, Women’s History Month, Black History Month, Disability History Month and LGBT History Month.

We provide staff with a blended approach to staff development, offering a wealth of online and face-to-face resources, which are thought provoking and challenging in order to ensure that staff understand their responsibilities towards equality, diversity and inclusion.

Working at the University is exciting and together, we will continually strive to make the University the most inclusive place it can be.

Learn more about inclusion at the University

Wellbeing

We work in a culture that promotes wellbeing, diversity and opportunity for all. Our staff are encouraged to adopt healthy lifestyles and we promote this ethos through resources, training and awareness raising, in order to foster a culture of shared and personal responsibility for wellbeing at work.

Through our wellbeing framework, staff are able to access and participate in regular activity that promotes the importance of personal wellbeing, as well as being mindful of others. Initiatives include mental health awareness, walking and jogging groups, seminars and dedicated themed events, such as University Mental Health Day.

Our staff have access to an Employee Assistance Programme, 365 days, 24/7. Through an online hub, app or telephone access point, this service gives you access to a suite of wellbeing services, providing a comprehensive library of resources and self-help programmes to help you get through life’s challenges.

Join the conversation on the University blog

Our University blog regularly includes articles written from our staff, students and guest contributors on a variety of topics and issues relating to health and wellbeing.

Read our wellbeing blogs

Memberships, schemes and charter marks

To support our fair and inclusive recruitment practices, University of Derby participates in a number of schemes, equality charter mark memberships, benchmarking activities and awards to support our ongoing commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing.

The Armed Forces Covenant

We show our commitment to support the UK’s military personnel, veterans and their families by signing The Armed Forces Covenant - a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve or have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly.

We hold Armed Forces celebration events and also work closely with military support charities and agencies such as SSAFA and Stand To. We have also embarked on a research project, commissioned by Derbyshire County Council to identify whether veterans across Derbyshire have their needs met by services such as health, housing and education.

'Ban the box'

We support the aims of the ‘Ban the Box’ campaign, which seeks to increase fair opportunities for people with criminal records to apply and compete for jobs. University of Derby actively promotes equality of opportunity for all candidates during the recruitment process.

We welcome applications from a wide range of candidates, including those with criminal records and successful candidates are chosen based on their merits, skills and abilities, and experience. As a result, we will only ask you about your unspent criminal convictions at job offer stage, in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Some of our roles require we undertake a DBS check on the successful candidate; however, a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working for the University. Your information will be treated confidentially and fairly throughout.

Anonymised shortlisting

On 1 February 2021, the University of Derby introduced anonymised shortlisting during the staff recruitment process.

This development is part of our ongoing commitment to embedding equality, diversity and inclusion into our staff recruitment practices, to ensure our workforce is representative of our student population and the communities in which we are based.

This change in approach supports the aims and objectives addressed in the University’s Equality and Diversity Strategy. It demonstrates the practical steps we are taking to remove barriers to recruitment by minimising the possible impact of our unconscious bias.

This means that, when shortlisting, panel members will no longer be able to see an applicant’s name and will see an applicant number instead.

This new process will complement existing staff training on:

If you have any questions about this process, please get in touch with the Recruitment Team

AccessAble

As members of the AccessAble scheme, all our accessibility information is available online to ensure people with disabilities have all the information they need to ensure our buildings and sites are accessible to them. We also have accessible service maps available for our sites.

Disability Confident

The University of Derby has achieved the Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) status. This means we have:

The University strives for inclusive wellbeing and universal accessibility to help us create a full people experience. In continuing on our Disability Confident journey, we are ensuring that people with disabilities have opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations.

Find out more about Disability Confident

Good Recruitment Collective and Charter

The University of Derby recruitment team are proud members of the Good Recruitment Collective (GRC).

The Good Recruitment Collective is a network of employers who have been assessed by the GRC and have signed up to unite behind one common goal of attaining recruitment best practices outlined in the Good Recruitment Charter. Each and every one of these organisations has dedicated themselves to supporting and upholding the Good Recruitment Charter.

The Good Recruitment Collective was created by the REC (Recruitment and Employment Confederation) to promote the critical importance that good recruitment practices play in organisational success.

Bronze Athena SWAN charter award

We are proud to hold a bronze award for the Athena SWAN charter mark. Athena SWAN is a higher education Charter mark, awarded by Advance HE. Originally, the Charter was established to encourage and further the careers of women in areas of science, technology, mathematics and medicine (STEMM), but was broadened out to recognise the work undertaken in the arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law (AHSSBL). Now the Charter assesses gender equality more widely, not just the barriers that affect female progression.

Being a bronze awarded member of Athena SWAN recognises our institutional commitment to gender equality and ensures that our policies and processes reflect the best practices available within the sector.

Pronouns Matter

The University of Derby understands that pronouns matter and we would like to support applicants to feel comfortable to be their authentic selves. If during the recruitment process (from interview through to your first day) you would like us to inform the recruiting manager of your preferred pronouns please let us know by contacting recruitment@derby.ac.uk.

Stonewall Diversity Champions

The University is rated Gold by Stonewall for its inclusive environment (2022). We work with Stonewall, Europe’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT+) charity, to ensure university is an inclusive and safe environment for everyone. We engage with the local community and support Pride.

Being a Stonewall Diversity Champion helps us to enable people to be their whole selves at work, regardless of how they identify, through our guidance, process and policy documents.

Social Mobility

We firmly believe in the transformational nature of education and, as a champion of social mobility, will strive to inspire and create opportunities for all across our region and beyond, regardless of age, background or location.

We are proud members of NEON and have previously won a national commitment to social mobility at the UK Social Mobility Awards

Members of the Race Equality Charter

The Race Equality Charter provides a framework through which we work to identify and self-reflect on institutional and cultural barriers standing in the way of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and students.

We are developing initiatives and solutions for action and intend to apply for a Bronze Race Equality Charter award in the near future.

By joining the Race Equality Charter, we are committing to a set of guiding principles in how we approach race equality and how we address our culture going forward.