At the University of Derby, we are committed to promoting equity and diversity through inclusion. In order to thrive at work, it is important that we foster an environment which engenders a sense of belonging, so everybody can bring their whole selves to work, key to engagement and high performance.
We encourage and enable our staff to celebrate the richness of their diversity, participating in staff networks, contributing to awareness raising and role modelling practices and behaviours consistent with our values.
Throughout the year, we hold multiple events that champion equity, diversity, and inclusion, such as LGBT History Month, International Women's Day, Black History Month, and Disability History Month.
We provide staff with a blended approach to staff development, offering a wealth of online and face-to-face resources, which are thought-provoking and challenging in order to ensure that staff understand their responsibilities towards equity, diversity and inclusion.
Working at the University is exciting and together we will continually strive to make the University the most inclusive place it can be.
Wellbeing
We work in a culture that promotes wellbeing, diversity and opportunity for all. Our staff are encouraged to adopt healthy lifestyles and we promote this ethos through resources, training and awareness raising, to help foster a culture of shared and personal responsibility for wellbeing at work.
Through our wellbeing framework, staff are able to access and participate in regular activity that promotes the importance of personal wellbeing, as well as being mindful of others. Initiatives include mental health awareness, walking and jogging groups, seminars and dedicated themed events, such as University Mental Health Day.
Our staff have access to an Employee Assistance Programme, 365 days, 24/7. Through an online hub, app or telephone access point, this service gives you access to a suite of wellbeing services, providing a comprehensive library of resources and self-help programmes to help you get through life’s challenges.
Join the conversation on the University blog
Our University blog regularly includes articles written from our staff, students and guest contributors on a variety of topics and issues relating to health and wellbeing.
Read our wellbeing blogs
Memberships, schemes and charter marks
To support our fair and inclusive recruitment practices, the University of Derby participates in a number of schemes, equality charter mark memberships, benchmarking activities and awards to support our ongoing commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing.
Accessible - Campus Accessibility Guides
As members of the AccessAble scheme, all our accessibility information is available online to ensure people with disabilities have all the information they need to ensure our buildings and sites are accessible to them. We also have accessible service maps available for our sites.
Disability Confident Employers
The University of Derby has achieved the Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) status.
This means we have:
- Undertaken and completed the Disability Confident self-assessment
- Completed the core actions required to be a Disability Confident employer
- Identified future actions to attract people with disabilities to work at the University and to retain and develop our people
The University strives for inclusive wellbeing and universal accessibility to help us create a full people experience. In continuing on our Disability Confident journey, we are ensuring that people with disabilities have opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations.
Find out more about Disability Confident.
Good Recruitment Collective and Charter
The University of Derby recruitment team are proud members of the Good Recruitment Collective (GRC).
The Good Recruitment Collective is a network of employers who have been assessed by the GRC and have signed up to unite behind one common goal of attaining recruitment best practices outlined in the Good Recruitment Charter. Each and every one of these organisations has dedicated themselves to supporting and upholding the Good Recruitment Charter.
The Good Recruitment Collective was created by the REC (Recruitment and Employment Confederation) to promote the critical importance that good recruitment practices play in organisational success.
Athena SWAN gender equality charter award holders - Bronze
We are proud to hold a bronze award for the Athena SWAN charter mark. Athena SWAN is a higher education Charter mark, awarded by Advance HE. Originally, the Charter was established to encourage and further the careers of women in areas of science, technology, mathematics and medicine (STEMM), but was broadened out to recognise the work undertaken in the arts, humanities, social sciences, business and law (AHSSBL). Now the Charter assesses gender equality more widely, not just the barriers that affect female progression.
Being a bronze awarded member of Athena SWAN recognises our institutional commitment to gender equality and ensures that our policies and processes reflect the best practices available within the sector.
Race Equality Charter Award holders - Bronze
In 2024, the University was awarded bronze for the Race Equality Charter, demonstrating our commitment to race equity. The Race Equality Charter provides a framework through which we work to identify and self-reflect on institutional and cultural barriers standing in the way of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and students.
Through the Race Equality Charter we develop initiatives and solutions for action and work with a set of guiding principles in how we approach race equality and how we address our culture going forward.
More information on this is available on our Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing page for the wider university.
Top 100 Stonewall LGBTQ+ Workplace Employer
The University is a Top 100 employer, achieving 13th in the 2024 Workplace Index and rated Gold by Stonewall for its inclusive environment. We work with Stonewall, Europe's largest lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, questioning and ace (LGBTQ+) charity to ensure our university is an inclusive and safe environment for everyone. We engage with local communities and support Pride.
Being a Stonewall Diversity Champion helps us to enable people to be their whole selves at work, however they identify, and we aim to ensure that our guidance, process and policy documents are inclusive.
Pronouns Matter
The University of Derby understands that pronouns matter and we would like to support applicants to feel comfortable to be their authentic selves. If during the recruitment process (from interview through to your first day) you would like us to inform the recruiting manager of your preferred pronouns please let us know by contacting recruitment@derby.ac.uk.
Social Mobility
We firmly believe in the transformational nature of education and, as a champion of social mobility, will strive to inspire and create opportunities for all across our region and beyond, regardless of age, background or location.
We are proud members of NEON and have previously won a national commitment to social mobility at the UK Social Mobility Awards.
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