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Support for firms on diversity

ICAEW is committed to supporting organisations in embracing the diversity agenda and meeting the needs of their employees. Here ICAEW has collated a series of resources and information, including support in understanding the requirements of the UK Equality Act 2010.

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Need to know

Diversity law and regulations An overview of the law concerning diversity and discrimination in the UK, with the latest case summaries and useful guidance.
Diversity and inclusion On this page you find articles, books and online resources providing background information and guidance on making a workplace more diverse and inclusive to the people who work in it.
Diversity and the accounting profession
  • Report
  • 2018
Improving diversity is not just a legal imperative. The concept of diversity is an inherent good with ubiquitous appeal and ethical, social and commercial value for accounting firms. But while good practices are developing, the profession still has some way to go in the transition to becoming more diverse.
Equality Act 2010
  • Website
  • 2010
Read the full text of the UK's Equality Act 2010.

Promoting diversity in the workplace

Imposter syndrome rife among female accountants
  • Article
  • 15 Apr 2024
  • ICAEW Insights
A new study reveals the challenges female accountants face at work, leading to stress, anxiety and a heightened fear of failure. We offer confidence-boosting tips.
Neurodiversity Celebration Week: closing the employment gap
  • Article
  • 20 Mar 2024
  • ICAEW Insights
Despite growing recognition of the power of thinking differently, levels of employment among the neurodivergent population are disappointingly low. But there are ways to move forward.
CFO most diverse C-suite role amid patchy progress
  • Article
  • 19 Mar 2024
  • ICAEW Insights
White men still hold three-quarters of chair, CEO or CFO roles across FTSE 350 and more than half of board and executive committee positions, study finds.
Push for Black representation in finance still crucial
  • Article
  • 18 Mar 2024
  • ICAEW Insights
Momentum on diversity, equity and inclusion created by the Black Lives Matter movement has stalled due to pressure on businesses facing multiple economic challenges, body warns.
Menopause reasonable adjustments – a six-step guide
  • Article
  • 11 Mar 2024
Making workplace changes to support women experiencing menopause symptoms will also ensure you stay on the right side of the law.
The accountant looking for a DEI fashion fix
  • Article
  • 04 Mar 2024
  • ICAEW Insights
Chartered accountant Jamie Gill has devised a programme to help professionals of colour from outside the fashion industry break into leadership roles in the sector.
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Age

Age discrimination Equality legislation protects individuals from being discriminated on the basis of their age. On this page you can find articles, books and online resources providing information, legislation and guidance. Also includes information on retirement age.
Blogs Following on from our survey of 10,000 citizens in 10 European countries, we are publishing a series of blogs to foster further ideas and suggestions on how to encourage more intergenerationally fair policy.
Why older people will need to work longer
  • Article
  • 08 May 2017
David Adams on why more older people will need to work for longer and what this means for them, their employers and society
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Disability

Diversity & Inclusion polaroid
Disability and the accounting profession
  • Hub page
  • 19 Dec 2017
Our disability helpsheet has been prepared by accountants with severe disabilities and draws on their experiences of adaptive processes and procedures in the workplace.
Disability discrimination Discrimination legislation protects the rights of disabled people in employment, education, and access to goods and services. On this page you can find articles, books and online resources offering guidance in this area of law.
New guidance: Acas issues guidance on reasonable adjustments for mental health
  • Article
  • 01 Jun 2023
  • Atom Content Marketing
Employers will welcome new Acas guidance to help them and their employees when considering reasonable adjustments for mental health at work.
New resource: Online help with employees’ disability/long-term health conditions
  • Article
  • 01 Dec 2022
  • Atom Content Marketing
Employers and managers will welcome a new online questionnaire that gives them free, tailored advice to help support and manage staff with a disability or a long-term health condition, whether they are off work or still working.
Employment law pitfalls and how to avoid them
  • Article
  • 16 Nov 2021
  • ICAEW Insights
Employment law specialists from Edwin Coe outline common mistakes and complex issues that employers may grapple with and how these can be avoided with a better understanding of the legal issues.
Tackling the effects of long COVID in the workplace
  • Article
  • 10 Feb 2021
11 February 2021: Employers are increasingly having to assess employees diagnosed with ‘long COVID’ to determine if they are classed as disabled for employment law purposes and make reasonable adjustments to assist those suffering from the condition.
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Gender

Women in Leadership (WiL) WIL supports women working across practice, industry and public sectors who are in senior management, partner or board roles. The programme has a strong personal development focus, and seeks to refine and craft your individual leadership style.
Board diversity Considerations and guidance for corporate governance professionals on boardroom diversity.
Mind the gender pensions gap
  • Article
  • 21 Jun 2023
  • ICAEW Insights
The gender pensions gap today stands at 35%, yet women contribute a higher proportion of their pay into their pension than men. We analyse some of the potential solutions to achieving pensions equity.
How well is accountancy performing on gender equality?
  • Article
  • 09 Jun 2022
  • ICAEW Insights
As leading lights of the sector are named among the UK’s Top 50 Employers for Women, we look at what the profession is doing right on gender equality – and why there’s still more to do.
Using mentoring to combat bias
  • Article
  • 07 Mar 2022
  • ICAEW Insights
Workplace mentoring schemes are well established as a tool to support career development. And with International Women’s Day on 8 March, we focus on their role in overcoming gender bias.
Times up! A movement for change
  • Podcast
  • 16 Feb 2018
This podcast from the RSA discusses where this powerful movement will go next. The panel, includes: Laura Bates, bestselling author and founder of the Everyday Sexism project; Helen Pankhurst, author and granddaughter of Sylvia Pankhurst; Ayesha Hazarika, Political Commentator and Comedian and Sophie Walker, Founding Leader of the Women’s Equality Party.
City of London
Women and finance: the issues
  • Article
  • 06 Jan 2017
  • Faye Watts
With finance remaining unattractive for female applicants, Faye Watts outlines a strategy for getting women running the numbers
Woman boardroom
Want more women in top positions? Provide more flexibility
  • Article
  • 24 Aug 2017
  • Heejung Chung
Heejung Chung discusses ways to help women maintain their working patterns after childbirth without sacrificing their careers
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Maternity, paternity and adoption

Maternity, paternity and adoption Find legislation and guidance on employee's rights and employer's responsibilities relating to maternity, paternity and adoption, including discrimination against those being pregnant or on maternity leave.
New law: Government parental leave and pay proposals published
  • Article
  • 01 Aug 2023
  • Atom Content Marketing
Employers will welcome the government’s response to its recent consultation on parental leave and pay which explains the changes it intends to make.
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Sexual orientation

LGBTQ+ History Month: inclusion and diversity across the biggest firms
  • Article
  • 21 Feb 2023
  • ICAEW Insights
As we embrace LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) History Month, we take a look at how accountancy firms in the UK are fostering greater inclusion and visibility.
10 tips for workplace inclusion for LGBTQIA+ people
  • Article
  • 12 Feb 2021
Izzi Lerwill, transgender and non-binary chartered accountant at Grant Thornton UK, shares 10 practical tips for making the workplace more inclusive for LGBTQIA+ people.
Inga beale
Q&A: Lloyd’s of London CEO Dame Inga Beale
  • Article
  • 18 Jan 2018
  • Chris Evans
Dame Inga Beale on pushing the market into the modern age, tackling diversity and dealing with Trump and tornadoes
LBGT90
LGBT networks: Benefitting business
  • Article
  • 19 Feb 2015
  • Oliver Griffin
LGBT networks are building inclusion - for everyone - across accountancy firms
LGBTintheBigFour
LGBT networks in accountancy
  • Article
  • 28 Jan 2016
  • Jessica Fino
How firms are supporting their LGBT employees and clients
OUTstanding
  • Website
  • 01 Jan 2018
OUTstanding is a membership organisation for global businesses. It works with LGBT+ and ally leaders to drive cultural change, creating an environment where everyone can succeed. Working with 26% of the FTSE 100, it is a network that aims to drive positive change.
Stonewall
  • Website
  • 01 Jan 2018
  • Stonewall Equality
Founded in 1989, Stonewall aims to let all lesbian, gay, bi and trans people, here and abroad, know they're not alone. The organisation works to support individuals in making a difference for LGBT people at work, home and in their communities.
Research by Stonewall
  • Report
  • 01 Jan 2018
Access the latest research from Stonewall's into LGBT people's experiences of discrimination and public attitudes towards LGBT equality.
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Race, including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin

Race discrimination Equality legislation protects individuals from being discriminated against on the basis of their race. On this page you can find articles, books and online resources providing information, legislation and guidance.
Spotlight on: Ololade Adesanya
  • Article
  • 03 Oct 2022
Ololade Adesanya is a Director at Deloitte with over 14 years’ experience working with firms in the financial services industry, providing advisory and assurance services around governance, risk and controls. She is also the current President of the ICAEW West of England.
Spotlight on: Robin Vela
  • Article
  • 03 Oct 2022
Robin holds various interests in the industrials, property, renewable energy and logistics sectors across Sub-Saharan Africa. He is the Founder and Chair of Lonsa Group Limited, Chair of Lonsa Everite, Deputy Chair of Swartland Investments and Chair of Firstmile Properties. Robin (a fellow of the Chartered Securities Institute in England & Wales) is a professionally qualified and experienced investment banker and in 2016 was appointed to the ICAEW Member’s Advisory Board for Africa. Robin is also a member of the Institute of Directors in Southern Africa, the past patron for the African Institu...
Hullait800
Member profile: Rashpal Singh Hullait
  • Article
  • 08 Sep 2017
  • Xenia Taliotis
Rashpal Singh Hullait tells Xenia Taliotis where he gets his tenacity from
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Religion or belief

Supporting staff through Ramadan
  • Article
  • 21 Mar 2023
  • ICAEW Insights
Communication, support and empathy can ensure your Muslim colleagues can celebrate their faith without it impacting their work
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