The Heart of Yorkshire Education Group has been awarded the Investors in Diversity Silver accreditation by the National Centre for Diversity, recognising its commitment to creating a truly inclusive workplace and learning environment.
As part of its journey to Silver, the Group collected anonymous feedback on its implementation of FREDIE through a 360-degree stakeholder survey, staff focus groups and interviews. Based on this, the Group received a traffic light report, an action plan for improvement and national benchmarking data to guide future development.
The award was presented to the Group by Solat Chaundry, Chief Executive of the National Centre for Diversity, at the Group’s Annual Staff Conference at Elland Road in Leeds, attended by over 700 staff.
Solat said:
"We are delighted that the Heart of Yorkshire has achieved the Investors in Diversity Silver accreditation. This is a significant milestone that reflects the hard work, openness and commitment of their leaders, staff, colleagues and service users. Congratulations to everyone involved on this well-deserved success.”Sam Wright, Principal and Chief Executive Officer at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, said:
“Our staff are at the heart of this accreditation, so it was only fitting to share this achievement at our Annual Staff Conference, where we also launched our new strategic goals, including a focus on nurturing inclusion and belonging. Their voice was central to achieving Silver, giving us a fuller picture of where inclusion is working well and where further growth is needed, helping us drive forward meaningful change.”Karen Sykes, Group Executive Director for People, said:
“Achieving the Silver accreditation proves that inclusion is not just a policy at the Group - it’s about how we treat each other, how supported we feel and whether we all truly belong. Our staff live and breathe the values of FREDIE in everything they do, creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for both students and colleagues.”
The Silver award is valid for two years and positions the Group strongly to pursue Gold, which assesses the lived experience of inclusion across five organisational pillars.
Find out more about the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, at: www.heartofyorkshire.ac.uk
Learn more about FREDIE, at: https://nationalcentrefordiversity.com/diversity-training/fredie-the-basics/