Environment Agency equality and diversity: benchmarking
Published 10 June 2020
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1. Our Achievements
The Environment Agency is very proud of our benchmarking results. It comes from our desire to create a place where all staff are equally able to thrive and enjoy their work. We commit to providing services which benefit all our customers.
2. Our Continuing Journey
The various benchmarks focus on different protected characteristics. Where applicable we will action the lessons for all employees.
The Environment Agency is determined to:
- increase the diversity of our recruitment
- provide equal opportunities for our staff
- provide an inclusive service for our customers
3. Our Partners
Our partners provide:
- a comprehensive benchmarking assessment
- expert advice
- a network for learning best practice
4. Benchmarking findings
4.1 Employers network for equality and inclusion (enei)
enei works to achieve and promote best practice in equality and inclusion in the workplace. Benchmarking:
- score: 49% in 2014
- scored well: our leadership and commitment
- working on: embedding our monitoring process into all aspects of the employee journey - recruitment, development, performance, turnover, absence
4.2 Business Disability Forum (BDF)
BDF aims to build disability-smart organisations to improve business performance by increasing confidence, accessibility, productivity and profitability. Benchmarking:
- score: 86% in 2016 equalling first place
- praised for: providing accessible ICT
- working on: improving our workplace adjustments process
4.3 Business in the Community - Gender
BiTC - Gender aim to create safe and inclusive work environments in which all talent can thrive. They ensure choice, type and status of work are influenced by capability, not gender. Benchmarking:
- score: 82% in 2014 equalled Gold and Top 10 public sector
- praised for: our novel approach to engaging staff
- working on: tackling unconscious bias in people decisions
4.4 Business in the Community - Race
BiTC - Race aim to support organisations to reflect the communities in which they operate. This means they are better able to serve their increasingly diverse customers. Benchmarking:
- score: 75% in 2014 equalled Gold and Top 10 public sector
- praised for: our strong procurement policy
- working on: removing barriers from our recruitment
4.5 Stonewall
Stonewall aims to make institutions more inclusive for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Benchmarking:
- score: we are place 35 in the rankings for 2020, and place 7 in the Government sector
- praised for: for our engagement with our partners for engaging with LGBT+ inclusion
- working on: raising awareness of all the different areas of intersectionality within LGBT+ such as disability, faith, low income, mental health
4.6 Mind
The Mind Workplace Wellbeing Index compares how companies and organisations are supporting the wellbeing of their staff, particularly around the aspect of mental health. Benchmarking:
- score: achieved Gold Award – Achieving Excellence in 2019/20
- praised for: runnings regular engaging initiatives to raise awareness of mental health issues
- working on: building awareness of mental health around key employee life events such as new parents, carers, retirees and graduates