As part of its commitment in creating an inclusive workplace and learning environment, the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group has been awarded the Investors in Diversity accreditation by the National Centre for Diversity.
FREDIE stands for Fairness, Respect, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement and is designed to create a truly inclusive culture.
Sam Wright, Principal and Chief Executive Officer at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, said:
“Inclusion is far more than a word, it’s what defines us as an organisation. That is why it’s one of our core values and is something which I see our staff live and breath every day in their work. We have strong foundations in place and achieving the Inclusion in Diversity accreditation is a testament to our efforts in creating an inclusive community for our learners and staff. We look forward to building on this as we strive to achieve the Silver accreditation, ensuring our employees voices are heard and that we understand everyone’s experiences and how we can improve them.”
To introduce the FREDIE framework to its staff, the Group held a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) day which included a range of sessions that sparked curiosity, inspired learning and encouraged meaningful conversations around Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).
Founder and Chief Executive Officer at the National Centre for Diversity, Solat Chaudhary, also delivered engaging sessions on how to make inclusion safe again.
Solat, said:
“FREDIE has the power to completely transform organisations when it’s embedded into workplace cultures, and it was great to be able to demonstrate its effectiveness at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group’s CPD day. As it’s a national benchmark, it gives organisations something to strive for and compare themselves to, providing them with insights into key strengths and areas that require further development. We’re delighted that the Group has achieved the Bronze accreditation and our team will be working closely with them in the next stages of their FREDIE journey, empowering them to achieve Silver and one day, Gold.”
Reinforcing its commitment to excellence, inclusivity, and continuous growth, the Group has also signed the Association of College’s (AoC) Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Charter.
Sam Wright (left) with Chair of Governors Andrew McConnell OBE (right) signing the AoC’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Charter
As part of this, the Group is encouraged to create an inclusive culture and value diversity when developing its policies and practices.