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Support for individuals on diversity

ICAEW is committed to supporting all of its members in ensuring they are pursuing a career which embraces their diversity. Here ICAEW has collated a series of resources and information, including support in understanding your requirements of the UK Equality Act 2010, and networks to meet like-minded people and share your experiences.

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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.
Emotional support from CABA
  • Listing
  • CABA
If you are feeling in need of emotional support, CABA (Chartered Accountants Benevolent Association) is here to listen and to help. CABA's services are free, confidential and available 24 hour and are available for past and present ICAEW members, as well as family members.
Diversity and the accounting profession
  • Report
  • Carla Edgley, Nina Sharma, Fiona Anderson Gough, Keith Robson
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
Read the full text of the UK's Equality Act 2010.
Probate diversity data results
  • Article
  • Business Law
All firms accredited for probate services are required to collect, report and publish diversity data about their employees.

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.
Retirement This selection of high-quality resources provides information on retirement planning, managing your retirement finances, taking care of your health and exploring work and volunteering opportunities when reaching retirement age.
Older workers take front line in ‘war for talent’
  • Article
  • 08 Mar 2024
  • ICAEW Insights
Diversity and inclusion are high on the agenda for all businesses keen to attract and retain talent. But are firms overlooking the value of older workers in this mix? And is there a case for mandatory age profile reporting, similar to the gender pay gap requirements?
caba: approaching and enjoying retirement
  • Website
  • 10 Aug 2023
  • caba
Tips and advice from the Chartered Accountants' Benevolent Association on preparing for and managing your retirement.
Act your age
Why older people will need to work longer
  • Article
  • 08 May 2017
  • David Adams
David Adams on why more older people will need to work for longer and what this means for them, their employers and society
Looking for work
  • Website
  • 10 Aug 2023
  • Age UK
This section on the Age UK website brings together useful advice on finding work and volunteering opportunities as well as starting your own business and CV writing for over 50s.
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Disability

Diversity & Inclusion polaroid
Disability and the accounting profession
  • Hub page
  • 15 Jan 2018
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.
Workforce with disabilities is “finally being taken seriously”
  • Article
  • 01 Dec 2022
  • ICAEW Insights
To commemorate the International Day of Disabled Persons on 3 December, ICAEW gains insight from Sami Dar, co-founder of 10,000 Able Interns, a programme that unlocks opportunities for students and graduates with disabilities.
Big Four
Big Four to tackle exclusion of disabled people in business
  • Article
  • 13 Sep 2019
  • Frances Ball
Firms combine for the first time in signing up to The Valuable 500 global pledge
Member profile Richard Cartwright
  • Article
  • 09 Feb 2016
  • Peter Taylor-Whiffen
Richard Cartwright did not give up on his career after a devastating accident
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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.
Women In Finance polaroid
Women in Finance
  • Hub page
  • 30 May 2023
A community that provides networking and personal development opportunities to enable women in finance to achieve their potential and lead a career without limits.
Women in business A collection of books, articles and guides on topics of interest to women working in business and accountancy.
Sexism in the City: what progress has been made?
  • Article
  • 31 Jul 2023
  • ICAEW Insights
New inquiry will review whether the financial services industry has met previous recommendations from the Treasury Committee to create a more gender-balanced industry.
International Women’s Day: ICAEW’s inspirational leaders
  • Article
  • 07 Mar 2023
  • ICAEW Insights
Women leading ICAEW discuss the biggest issues facing accountancy and offer their career advice.
First Women's Health Strategy for England to tackle gender health gap
  • Press release
  • 21 Jul 2022
  • Department of Health and Social Care and The Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP
The government has published the first ever Women's Health Strategy for England to tackle the gender health gap.
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.
Women in accountancy
  • Listing
  • 21 Apr 2011
What ICAEW is doing to support our female members
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Maternity, paternity and adoption

Career Breakers Resources, guidance and advice from ICAEW on getting back to work following a period of unemployment.
People going to work
Career Breakers Community
  • Website
ICAEW’s Career Breakers Community is a forum for members planning to return to work after a career break. It offers a space to connect, collaborate, offer feedback and opinions, share information and ideas and give and get support.
Why preconceptions can put up barriers to promotion
  • Article
  • ICAEW Insights
On one hand you’re told to be your authentic self, on the other that rising through the ranks requires certain behaviours. And while this double standard continues to persist, it’s often women who lose out.
New tools for planning shared parental leave
  • Article
HMRC has launched new online tools to help parents understand their eligibility for shared parental leave (SPL) and plan how to use it. ICAEW’s Tax Faculty explains how mums and adopters can opt in even if not sharing with a partner
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LGBT

LGBTQ+ History Month: inclusion and diversity across the biggest firms
  • Article
  • 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.
LGBT+ History Month: Izzi Lerwill shares their story
  • Article
Izzi Lerwill, transgender and non-binary chartered accountant at Grant Thornton UK, shares their story for LGBT+ history month.
OUTstanding
  • Website
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
  • 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.
Nine ways to advance LGBT+ policy throughout global organizations
  • Report
Read EY's practical guide for advancing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender diversity and inclusion across global companies.
ShinePwC
  • Website
Shine is an inclusive PwC business network for LGBTQ+ people, allies and supporters.
Research by Stonewall
  • Report
Access the latest research from Stonewall's into LGBT people's experiences of discrimination and public attitudes towards LGBT equality.
Stonewall mental health support
  • Listing
A list of organisations able to provide support for members of the LBGT community who are experiencing mental health difficulties. The list includes local organisations as well as those that operate across the UK.
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Race, including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin

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.
ICAEW Black Talent Charter update report 2022
  • Report
  • 01 Dec 2023
  • PDF (821kb)
  • Black Members Community
Progress updates on ICAEW's work to support the Charter for Black Talent in Finance and the Professions. It examines progress towards on the initial targets for the years 2021 and 2022 planned actions for 2023.
Female and ethnic minority entrepreneurs miss out on lending
  • Article
  • 22 May 2023
  • ICAEW Insights
Access to funding and support for women and under-represented entrepreneurs is improving, however they continue to feel estranged from the wider enterprise ecosystem.
Parker Review sets new goals to boost DE&I progress
  • Article
  • 23 Mar 2023
  • ICAEW Insights
FTSE companies have made significant strides with ethnic diversity on boards, according to the Parker Review – but deeper details show there’s still a long way to go.
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...
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