Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion rewarded.
Queen Alexandra College (QAC) in Birmingham has recently demonstrated commitment to its staff and stakeholders by achieving the Investors in Diversity Standard at Stage 2 Full Review.
A specialist college for people with disabilities based in Harborne, QAC works with people with disabilities of all ages, offering supportive academic and employment based programmes as well as short courses and an independent living provision.
The Investors in Diversity (IiD) Standard is awarded by the National Centre for Diversity to organisations that strive for excellence in this area and who are seeking to create a culture of openness, understanding and acceptance. In particular, the Stage 2 Award focuses on transforming practices and behaviours within an organisation by creating conditions for promoting greater communication, discussion and engagement with the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion.
Investors in Diversity Advisor Jo Barton states “QAC already had exemplary practice in terms of the support for disabled students at the College when I first started working with them. I am pleased to see that many of my recommendations and suggestions have been taken on board by the leadership at the College. Since the IiD journey commenced, EDI has become further embedded within the College and is now an integral part of College life for both staff and students.”
In addition, the College recently signed up to MINDFUL EMPLOYER; a UK-wide initiative, which is aimed at increasing awareness of mental health in the workplace and supporting businesses in recruiting and retaining staff.
Vicky Waldron, Director of Human Resources and Estates at QAC comments “Everyone at QAC works hard to ensure that we have a culture of respect and integrity and that staff and stakeholders feel valued. We are thrilled to have been awarded the Investors in Diversity Standard (Stage 2) as it is testament to our existing practices as well as our plans for the future. By signing up to the MINDFUL EMPLOYER initiative, we are demonstrating our commitment to supporting individuals who may experience mental health difficulties at any stage”
