Middlesbrough Council is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community – a place where we can all be our true selves. Equality, diversity, and inclusion is at the heart of our values, and we're committed to having an inclusive workforce which represents the communities we serve.
Home Careers and job opportunities Equality, diversity, and inclusion matters
Equality, diversity, and inclusion matters
A network of inclusivity
We know networking contributes to personal and professional fulfillment and success. We've built some amazing diversity networks, which are aimed at creating better engagement and making sure that our staff feel seen, connected, and supported. The work of the networks includes a focus on shaping our organisational culture to create fairer and more inclusive work environments for all.
Each network has specific objectives but all of them share the aim of providing a sense of community, inspiring and raising awareness of diversity, and creating a genuinely inclusive culture at Middlesbrough Council.
We're proud of our networks, which are continuously growing. You can find out more about them here...
Carers Network
Middlesbrough Council supports working carers and works with all Service Areas to ensure that all working carers are supported to carry out their caring role at home and also to participate fully in the workplace, including career development opportunities and progression.
Disability and Wellbeing Network
The Disability and Wellbeing Network meets regularly to create a friendly staff group for disabled staff, staff with a long-term health conditions, staff who care for disabled dependents and staff with an interest in disability.
The role of the network is to:
- provide an opportunity to exchange information and ideas
- raise awareness about disability issues including the environmental, behavioural and institutional barriers experienced by a range of people with physical, cognitive and mental health conditions
- provide a confidential and safe space in which to discuss these issues.
This network has been instrumental in signing up, achieving and becoming a Disability Confident Employer, a scheme that recognises Middlesbrough Council’s commitment to good practice with regards to the recruitment, employment, retention and career development of people with a disability.
Gender Equality Network
The Gender Equality Network is a newly formed network and is open to all employees of Middlesbrough Council who have an interest in gender issues.
This network will allow members to raise awareness and share information on gender equality issues, initiatives, activities and events. It also contributes to positive change, which will create opportunities to shape the culture of our organisation.
LGBT+ Network
The LGBT+ network is here to raise the visibility of the community. The group meet regularly on matters to promote inclusivity and greater understanding and awareness of diversity. The network also:
- Provides peer support between staff
- Engages with key staff to support change through inclusivity and collaboration
- Helps raise awareness of LGBT+ issues.
- Helps shape our policy and procedures on matters related to LGBT+
Race, Religion, and Belief (including Non-Belief) Network
Employees from all race, religion and beliefs are welcome to join the group and participate in activities to promote Middlesbrough Council as an ‘Employer of Choice’ and implement best practice with regards to race, ethnicity and religious groups (including non-belief).
This network has been instrumental in signing Middlesbrough Council up to the Race at Work Charter, a public commitment to improving the experiences of Black and minority ethnic employees in the workplace.
Leading the change
One of our priorities is to promote greater equality, diversity, and inclusion across our workforce and the community we serve.
"At Middlesbrough Council, we want to nurture an accepting and inclusive culture for everyone, regardless of their background. We know that diversity of thought brings innovation and we want everyone to feel empowered to create an inclusive workplace and ensure that we all have a voice.
Our Employee Networks continue to make Middlesbrough Council an organisation where everyone feels their opinion is important and valued."
Saadia Azam, HR Lead - Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Key initiatives and accreditations
We want to drive continuous improvement in everything we do. That's why we seek accreditation who recognise how to drive improvement.
It's also an opportunity to step back and celebrate the work we've done as an organisation to create an environment where people are encouraged to be themselves and to speak up about the issues that matter to them.
Better Health at Work – Maintaining Excellence
We're proud to have achieved the Maintaining Excellence status for the North East Better Health at Work Award. This is a regional award scheme which recognises and endorses workplaces that motivate workers in developing a sustainable culture of health and wellbeing.
Carer Friendly Employer
Middlesbrough Council has been recognised as a Carer Friendly employer. This highlights our commitment to supporting our working carers.
Disability Confident Leader
We've been recognised as a Disability Confident Leader for our commitment to helping people with disabilities into employment.
Level 3 Leader status is an external validation of our commitment to supporting those with disabilities to obtain and retain meaningful employment.
Inclusive Employers – Bronze
We're proud to have been awarded bronze status by Inclusive Employers, recognising our commitment to embedding diversity and inclusion across our organisation.
Mindful Employer
Achieving the Mindful Employer accreditation highlights our commitments around mental health.
We're committed to creating a supportive and open culture where colleagues are able to talk about mental health, confident that they will be given non-judgemental and proactive support, and offered reasonable adjustments when required.
Race at Work Charter
We are proud to be a signatory of Business in the Community's Race at Work Charter. This is an initiative designed to improve outcomes for ethnic minority employees in the UK by increasing opportunities in the workplace. Signing the charter is an important step in our journey to ensuring a fully inclusive and representative workplace where no barriers exist for prospective and existing employees from ethnic minorities in terms of recruitment and progression.
