Diversity and equal opportunities training

The Centre's specialist diversity unit offers 5 different training programmes:

  • Our unique APT transformation programme
  • Diversity first - our 'whole organisation' diversity and equal opportunties training
  • Managing diversity - to ensure managers are up to speed
  • Dignity at work
  • Action Learning Sets and other blended learning options

APT framework

For organisations wanting to build diversity into the core of their work, and address key issues of multiculturalism, social cohesion and the changing equalities climate, we have developed an holistic transformation programme covering:

  • Awareness - developing diversity awareness
  • Planning - looking at your organisation's goals, processes and procedures - how can diversity and equality help you achieve them? What do you need to do to develop workable policies, processes and performance indicators
  • Transformation - bringing it all together, creating an organisation fit for the 21st century.

The Centre's Transformation Programme is based on developing a culture of fairness, respect, equality and dignity within your workplace.  It is grounded in the Human Rights framework and emphasises what we all have in common, as well as celebrating difference.  It draws on your strategic planning, and focuses on delivering your organisational goals.

The transformation programme uses a variety of 'immersion' techniques to stretch and energise all your people, including workshops, action learning sets, journal work, legal briefings, coaching and on-line resources.

Diversity First

If you want to ensure your staff are up to speed on diversity and equal opportunities, and that everyone is singing from the same songsheet, we can provide half-day or one-day diversity first workshops to be offered on a rolling programme across your organisation,  covering

  • why diversity and equal opportunties are important, the benefits for your organisation
  • the legal framework
  • your diversity/equal opportunities policy
  • what an inclusive culture looks like, what is expected of individual members of staff

Managing diversity

This is training for managers who need to develop and manage a diverse team.  It covers:

  • the legal framework
  • equality schemes
  • day to day management issues (including recruitment, reasonable adjustments for disabled staff, working from home, efficiency and flexibility).
  • Bullying and harassment

Dignity at work

More and more organisations are adding policies on harassment and bullying to their equalities portfolio, to support a positive and inclusive working environment.  Our dignity at work training covers:

  • How dignity at work policies can support diverse teams
  • Creating a positive working environment
  • Recognising bullying and harassment
  • Tackling bullying and harassment (including investigating allegations, taking disciplinary action)

Action Learning Sets and other blended learning options

Action learning is a great way to develop ownership and commitment to equality and diversity. We have facilitated diversity action learning for a number of clients, with groups of staff looking at key issues for the organisation and making recommendations.

Benchmarking - we can facilitate benchmarking visits for your team to go and visit similar organisations and discuss their approach to diversity.

Journal work - for reflective learners, we will provide journals and exercises to help them think through issues and situations around diversity in their everyday lives.

Coaching - we can provide coaching for managers who want to develop their skills in managing a diverse team; we also offer coaching to individuals from minority groups who want to build their skills and confidence and consider their best career options.

On-line resources - we are developing a range of on-line resources on diversity which will be available on knowledge@the-centre.  Watch this space!