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Working in a New Equality and Diversity Landscape – The Equality Act and Beyond

Date: Tuesday, 9th November 2010
Time: 10.00am-4.45pm (including networking lunch)
Venue: Westminster, London
Cost: £225-£395 for one place, dependent on sector (discounts for more than one place).

Please click here to view an agenda

“Make no mistake our Equality legislation has made a massive difference over the years, the pay gap has gone down, the employment gap between disabled and able bodied people has gone down, and the race employment gap has gone down too. Our legislation has worked but these gaps have reduced too slowly and we have significantly beefed up the legislation now to speed up that process. If you put a duty on a public authority to reduce inequality you are going to have them watched by all around them, and if they fail they will have to pay a penalty. It will also mean that private sector firms will have to comply with the legislation if they want to work for the public sector. I think employers’ now understand that they don’t have a conflict between their business interests and the interests of their employees to be treated equally”.
- Vera Baird QC, former Solicitor General and lead on the Equality Bill, April 2010

The Context

With the Equality Bill receiving Royal Assent in April of this year, a new and improved equality and diversity framework has been set down. As the provisions of the new Act are rolled out all public authorities, businesses and third sector organisations will have to significantly adapt their services and working practices to ensure they are in full compliance. Furthermore, strengthened equality protections and regulations will mean that service users and employees will have greater redress to ensure that the services they use of the workplaces they work in are fair and diverse ones.

Confirmed Speakers Include:

  • Alan Christie, Director of Policy, Strategy Directorate, EHRC
  • Amanda Ariss, Chief Executive, Equality and Diversity Forum
  • Carol Baxter, Head of Equality and Diversity, NHS Employers
  • Audrey Williams, Head of Discrimination Law, Eversheds
  • Steve Williams, Head of Equality, Acas
  • James Murphy, Disability Advisory Service Manager, Papworth Trust
  • Les Venus, Board Member, UK Council for Access and Equality
  • Simon Fanshawe, Equality and Diversity Consultant
  • Richard Smith, Corporate and Training Manager, Croner Consulting
  • (Chair) Sarah Spencer CBE, Chair, Equality and Diversity Forum

The Event & Issues

This Westminster Briefing Conference will provide delegates with a timely update on the new Act and its roll out, an opportunity to examine the processes that organisations have and need to put in place to ensure they are meeting their equality obligations, a chance to look at the new protections for service users and employees, and discuss potential future challenges and the way ahead in delivering a more equal and fair society for all. Throughout the day delegates will have the chance to engage with the panel, investigating key issues such as:

  • The view from the Government on the Act, its implications and timetable for implementation;
  • HR & equality and diversity priorities: immediate and future action;
  • What the Act means to an employer and service provider from a policy and practical perspective;
  • Understanding how to ensure an equal and diverse workplace;
  • Morning and afternoon case studies addressing employer and employee equality challenges;
  • Looking beyond the Act and considering possible future equality challenges.

Who should Attend?

Delegates will be drawn from a wide range of stakeholders, including all equality, diversity and HR practitioners and professionals from public, private and third sector organisations; central government departments and relevant bodies; employment and HR legal service providers; academia; the voluntary sector, NGOs and community groups; and all those that have an interest in equality and diversity and the implications of the Equality Act.

Registration Options

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