Equality and Diversity

Whilst you are working with Construction Learning World we want you to feel valued and supported as an individual, whether you are already registered on a qualification or considering your preferred pathway.

During your induction to any one of our many learning pathways and qualifications, you’ll receive information about equal opportunities. This guide gives you more details about equality of opportunity.

We’ve tried to keep the guide simple but if you require help in understanding it please contact us. If English is not your first language, we can arrange to have someone translate it for you.

Learning World’s Single Equality Policy

The key principles underpinning this policy are:

To recognise and promote a diverse organisation.
To be proactive during recruitment and ensure that selection is carried out fairly in order to employ people from a wide range of backgrounds.
To celebrate differences between people regardless of their cultural beliefs, religion, age, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity or gender.
To create positive images of under-represented groups using marketing materials and case studies.
To value a diverse mix of staff and learners, and understand the unique benefits they can bring to the organisation.

Race, Disability, Gender and Age Equality

Race commitment

Learning World will value and engage a diverse workforce of staff and learners, including people from a variety of racial, ethnic, national backgrounds and disadvantaged groups.
Disability commitment

Learning World believes that staff and learners with a disability should be treated equally and supported in order to help them develop their full potential.
Gender commitment

Learning World will address gender imbalance, and will actively promote and encourage participation from under-represented groups within areas of learning and non-traditional occupations.
Age commitment

Learning World will address age imbalance and address misconceptions relating to age.
Monitoring

Learning World will monitor and review the equality of learners from all backgrounds to ensure there is no significant variables in outcomes.

Elimination of Discrimination

Learning World will continue to promote an inclusive workplace and learning environment, and operate a zero tolerance of any form of discrimination.
- We will ensure we deal with bullying, where persistent and offensive behaviour affects a person’s self-esteem and confidence, and may include offensive comments and / or intimidation
- We will ensure we deal effectively with unwelcome comments. All unwelcome comments will be challenged, and any materials which cause offence or demean others will be removed.
- We will ensure we do not treat a person less favourably when they have made a complaint or allegation.
- We will ensure we do not directly discriminate against a person where they are dealt with less favourably than others.
- We will ensure we do not indirectly discriminate against a person by applying conditions which cannot be justified.

What are your responsibilities?

You should treat everyone fairly and with respect - treat others as you would expect to be treated yourself!

Remember that some people might need additional support or special arrangements to help them achieve their learning programme. Every one of our learners is entitled to this type of support.

You must not, for example, bully, harass or victimise anyone for any reason.

If you know of any bullying, harassment or victimisation that’s going on, report it to your line manager, supervisor or assessor. You can do this in total confidence.

What is prejudice?

Prejudice is based on people’s individual beliefs and values. For example, if someone believes that people of the opposite sex or from another culture, or race, or with a disability are inferior to their own, then that person is prejudiced. We grow up developing these personal beliefs, sometimes influenced by our friends (peer group pressure) or our parents or relatives’ views. As we improve our knowledge, through everyday life and experience, about equality and diversity, our own views and personal beliefs can change, hopefully for the better.

What is stereotyping?

Stereotyping means to make generalizations, usually negative, about a group of people; attributing a set of characteristics based on their appearance or our own assumptions. Examples of stereotyping include; all football fans are hooligans, hairdressing is a career for girls only (being a motor mechanics is only for boys), all Asians make good business people, older people can’t learn new skills, etc. Of course, none of the above statements are true for everyone and you should challenge comments about stereotyping.

What can you do if you feel you’re being harassed, bullied or victimised?

Whilst working towards your qualification you should not be treated any differently than anyone else and you should never be bullied, harassed or victimised by anyone - for any reason.

If you are, you need to tell someone about it! You can, of course, talk confidentially to your assessor. If it’s happening in your workplace, you should follow your employer’s complaints or grievance procedure but we recommend that you talk to us first, we may be able to help.

Learning World takes bullying and harassment very seriously, it will not be tolerated. You can bring a formal complaint at any time. You can complain through our appeals and complaints procedure.

Creating a Diverse Workplace and Learning Environment

Learning World will create a diverse workplace and learning environment, by ensuring all buildings are regularly inspected for health, safety and access requirements, and make any reasonably practicable adjustments.
Learning World will proactively promote inclusions and accessibility to Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) by regularly updating the website with the latest accessibility tools, in line with the priority level 1 criteria of the World Wide Web consortium’s accessibility guidelines.