The National Assembly for Wales has taken more positive steps in being an open and inclusive organisation.
In a year the Assembly was named as the top employer in the UK for LGBT people in the annual Stonewall Workplace index, it also retained its Investors in People gold standard, its National Autistic Society and Action on Hearing Loss Service Excellence Award and was named among the top 30 employers for working families.
The Assembly Commission’s latest Diversity and Inclusion Annual Report for 2017-18 highlights the progress made in achieving the Assembly Commission objectives set out in its Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2016-21:
Fostering inclusive leadership and an inclusive workplace culture;
Building on our approach to organisational development;
Supporting Assembly Members and their staff to build diversity into their work;
Supporting Assembly Commission staff to build diversity and inclusion into their work; and,
Being an Inclusive Employer which attracts and retains the widest pool of talent where all staff have the opportunity to realise their full potential.
“I am proud of the Assembly’s record on diversity and inclusion and that the concepts of fairness, dignity and respect have always been core principles,” said the Llywydd, Elin Jones AM.
“Whilst this report celebrates the work that we have done to be an inclusive organisation, we know that there is always more to do.
“We have not been immune to the distressing incidents which have come to light as a result of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movement.
“We accept our role in this issue and have brought in a number of new measures to empower people to speak out about their experiences at the National Assembly, both now and in the future.”
The National Assembly Commissioner with responsibility for equalities issues, Joyce Watson AM, added:
“We aim to be an exemplar organisation in the way that we support our staff, Assembly Members and the public that we serve.
“I am grateful to our Diversity and Inclusion Team, our workplace networks and to colleagues across the organisation for continuing to make the Assembly an inclusive employer and service provider.”
"I am proud of the Assembly’s record on diversity and inclusion and that the concepts of fairness, dignity and respect have always been core principles"
- Elin Jones AM, Llywydd of the National Assembly for Wales.
Highlights of the year:
Named by Stonewall as the top employer in Britain for LGBT people. Identified as a “trailblazer” by Stonewall, and named the Top Trans-inclusive employer, and our workplace network was highly commended for their activity;
Retention of other external awards and recognition e.g. Investors in People Gold standard, National Autistic Society and Action on Hearing Loss Service Excellence Award; Top 30 Employer for Working Families;
Celebrated the cultural diversity of people who work at the Assembly with a recipe book of traditional dishes from across the world;
Undertook more work to ensure the protection of people’s respect and dignity when working at the Assembly or engaging with people that work here;
Following the launch of a Mental Health policy, launched MINDFUL, a mental health and wellbeing workplace equality network. Throughout the year, the network has worked extensively with external partners to promote mental health and wellbeing and reduce stigma;
Reached out to communities across Wales to encourage democratic participation and to promote the Assembly as an employer of choice, including at Pride Cymru, at a suite of events for Black History Month, and celebrating women in politics by marking the centenary of some women getting the right to vote;
Reshaped the Assembly apprentice scheme to increase external outreach and make the scheme more inclusive resulting in more diverse applications than ever before; and,
Undertook a review of recruitment practices to ensure they are inclusive.
Diversity and Inclusion Annual Report 2017-2018
More information can be found about making complaints under the Assembly’s dignity and respect policy here.
Read the full report:
Diversity and Inclusion: Annual Report 2017-2018 (PDF, 2.9 MB)