The Company is fully committed to providing equal opportunities for all employees, workers and job applicants. The Company aims to create a culture that encourages and values diversity and that appoints, rewards and promotes staff based on merit.

It is unlawful to discriminate against any employee, worker or job applicant because of any “protected characteristic”, namely age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

The aim of the policy is to ensure no job applicant or employee is discriminated against either directly or indirectly on any unlawful grounds.

The Company has overall responsibility for ensuring that this policy is implemented in accordance with the appropriate statutory requirements and full account will be taken of all available guidance and in particular any relevant Codes of Practice.

The Company will ensure that the policy is circulated to any agencies responsible for its recruitment and a copy of the policy will be made available for all employees and made known to all applicants for employment.

The policy will be communicated to all private contractors reminding them of their responsibilities towards the equality of opportunity.

The Company will maintain a neutral working environment in which no worker feels under threat or intimidated.

Discrimination is unacceptable and breaches of the policy will lead to disciplinary proceedings and, if appropriate, disciplinary action.

Recruitment, selection and career development

The Company will endeavour, through appropriate training, to ensure that employees making selection and recruitment decisions will not discriminate, whether consciously or unconsciously, in making these decisions.

Promotion and career development will be made on merit. If you have any specific needs, the Company will accommodate and support you as far as practicable.

All decisions relating to this will be made within the overall framework and principles of this policy. Job descriptions, where used, will be in line with this equality, diversity and inclusion policy. Job requirements will be reflected accurately in any person specifications. The Company will adopt a consistent, non-discriminatory approach to the advertising of vacancies.