Information on equality, diversity and inclusion

Places of support for your business

  • The Care Leaver Covenant is a national inclusion programme that supports care leavers aged 16-25 to live independently.
  • The Armed Forces Covenant website contains information on how businesses can be a force-friendly employer and make a difference.
  • Evidence suggests positive public reactions to organisations that employ people with disabilities.
  • A diverse talent pool benefits your business by employing staff with specialist knowledge and skills, creative problem-solving, and who have a particular attention to detail. Having staff who reflect their broad consumer base and can also support your business to tap into diverse audiences to drive business growth. Read Employing disabled people and people with health conditions for more information.
  • The Purple Pound is the term for the spending power of disabled people. The Purple Pound equates to £249 billion a year to the UK economy.
  • Talent Inclusion and Diversity Evaluation (TIDE) is the diversity and inclusion self-assessment evaluation and benchmarking tool developed by the Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion.
  • Disability Confident provides advice on recruiting high-quality staff from the widest possible pool of talent.
  • Access to Work is a publicly funded employment support programme that provides practical and financial support if you have a disability or physical or mental health condition that can help people get or stay in work.
  • Toilets and changing facilities encourage people to visit new places and engage in activities such as shopping and socialising. Enabling access to your toilets and changing facilities for customers including people with disabilities and their carers; older people; people with babies or young children and people of all ages who are coping with a range of medical conditions encourages them to visit and stay longer, demonstrating good levels of customer care, broadening your customer base, increasing footfall. Find further information on Changing Place Toilets and locations
  • Inclusive Employers ‘Talking inclusion with…’  inclusion podcasts have a range of real-life stories and information on a broad spectrum of inclusion topics, including LGBTQ+, race, and social mobility, inclusion in sport, disability and wellbeing and mental health
  • Business in the Community (BITC’s) Race at Work Charter
  • West Midlands Combined Authority Race Forward West Midlands Race Equalities Taskforce Independent Strategy 2023-2028 for tackling race disparities across our region.
  • Pay disparities. Taking data from the Race at Work 2021 Survey, this Windrush Generation: employment and socioeconomic factors factsheet outlines the pay disparities including socio-economic factors 
  • MiFriendly Cities Employers Guide; A guide to assist employers in attracting, employing, and harnessing the skills of migrants and refugees. 
  • Capturing Ethnicity Data toolkits – understand and take action on your pay gaps. 
  • The International Rescue Company website contains refugee facts, statistics, and FAQs.
  • Business in the Community drugs, alcohol and tobacco toolkit for employers
  • Collective Voice is the national charity working to improve England’s drug and alcohol treatment and recovery system. Collective Voice provides advice and support to employers and individuals.
  • Find out more on how you can make a difference by recruiting people recovering from drug and alcohol misuse Guidance; Recruiting people recovering from drug and alcohol misuse; Published 30 July 2020
  • IPS is an evidence-based programme that supports people in finding and maintaining paid employment which aids substance recovery. IPS staff will work with businesses to become am IPS employer and develop employment opportunities for those who have been through drug and alcohol recovery. IPS staff will work with businesses to become an IPS employer and develop employment opportunities for those having been through drug and alcohol treatment. For further information contact the IPS Team Leader on 07500 649 641.
  • Find out more on how you can make a difference by employing prisoners and ex-offenders Guidance; Employing prisoners and ex-offenders; Updated 8 March 2023
  • Many skilled potential employees you may find have criminal records; NACRO has advice for employers. DBS checks can support your business with safer recruitment practices. The NSPCC safer recruitment guidance will support your business to help make sure your staff and volunteers are suitable to work with children and young people.
  • Many employees may be struggling financially from inflationary pressures such as rising prices and fuel costs. The Cost of Living and wellbeing support webpages contain information on the support available from many organisations for Coventry residents who may be feeling the pressure from the cost-of-living crisis.