Equality and Diversity
Vision
The University is committed to the promotion of diversity and equality and the elimination of discrimination in all its forms. The University will strive to develop fully the talents and potential of all its staff and students by ensuring that each is treated as an individual, fairly and with respect solely on the basis of their aptitude, ability and potential to pursue a course of study or to fulfil the requirements of a job, irrespective of age, disability, full-time or part-time status, gender, gender expression or identity, marital, partnership, parental or carer status, race, nationality, colour, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief or non-belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, or socio-economic background.
Dignity and Respect
The University of Chester is committed to providing a supportive and inclusive environment for all members of the University community. We value equality and diversity and promote respect. If you or someone you know has experienced or witnessed unacceptable behaviour such as harassment, discrimination, sexual assault, abuse, bullying or hate crime you can report it by using our simple online tool. All students, staff, visitors and employers can report using this tool. You can report an incident wherever it has occurred, for example off campus, during placement and in the workplace and can choose to supply your details or report anonymously.
Worker Protection Duty
The new duty to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace, which is set out in the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023, came into force on 26 October 2024. To ensure compliance with this, the University has:
- considered the risk of sexual harassment occurring in the course of employment;
- considered what steps it could take to reduce those risks and prevent sexual harassment of its workers;
- considered which of those steps it would be reasonable to take; and will
- implement those reasonable steps.
As a key first step, the University has assessed risks relating to sexual harassment in order to comply with the new duty.
The University’s Sexual Harassment Risk Assessment has identified ‘risk hotspots’ within the workplace and put in place proactive steps to mitigate those risks.
With support and commitment from the University’s Strategic Executive Team and consultation with recognised Trade Unions UCU and Unison, as well as seeking input from the University’s Unacceptable Behaviours Group, Campus Operations Groups, Procurement, Campus & Commercial Services and Heads of Academic Divisions and Professional Services from across the University, the risk assessment has identified the following actions:
- Enhanced promotion of the University’s mechanism for reporting Sexual Harassment (Report a Concern)
- Changes to the University’s mandatory training to improve all employees’ knowledge on this area
- Review and changes to relevant policies
- Practical changes to working environments and practices where appropriate
If you have any comments or feedback that you would like to share about this duty/actions or want to know more about Chester’s equality work, please email equality@chester.ac.uk.