Equality and Diversity

Athena SWAN bronze award

We were successfully awarded the Athena SWAN bronze award in 2015.

The Athena SWAN Charter recognises commitment to the advancement and promotion of women’s careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Medicine (STEMM) in academia. Launched by the Equality Challenge Unit in 2005, the Charter covers women in academic roles, students progressing into academia, and working environments for all staff.

Through the rigorous award system, Athena SWAN recognise and celebrate good practice in recruiting, developing, retaining and promoting women.

In May 2015 the charter was expanded to recognise work undertaken in arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law (AHSSBL), and in professional and support roles, and for trans staff and students. The charter now recognises work undertaken to address gender equality more broadly, and not just barriers to progression that affect women.

Find out more here: http://www.ecu.ac.uk/equality-charters/athena-swan/

Disability 2 ticks

The MRC has been awarded the Disability Two Ticks Symbol by Jobcentre Plus. The symbol identifies those employers who have agreed to meet five commitments regarding the recruitment, employment, retention and career development of disabled people.

Equality and Diversity Committee

We have a dedicated committee who focus on all aspects of equality and diversity. They are a driving force to influence the recruitment process, maintaining retention records and ensuring we consider equality and diversity in all unit decisions.

Equality Champions

Across the MRC we have 13 Equality Champions.  The overall aim of the Equality Champions is to assist the MRC to implement the requirements of the (Equality Act 2010) Equality Duty to have due regard to the need to:

• Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and any other conduct prohibited by the Act;
• Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it; and
• Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it.
• The Equality Champions meet together on a regular basis to share ideas and experiences.