Corporate report

Natural England equality, diversity and inclusion approach summary 2024 to 2027

Published 26 November 2024

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2024

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1. Our responsibility and commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI)

Natural England is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, with 78% of employees believing in this commitment. We champion individual differences and want to ensure that everyone feels welcomed and valued. We know that this is essential for the best outcomes in nature recovery, the organisation, for people and the sector. We need to foster a more inclusive culture and will begin with an organisation wide conversation on inclusion. Our data tells us that a particular struggle for us is progressing racial equity. We will have targeted support for improving racial equity alongside actions to progress general equality, diversity and inclusion outcomes.

2. Our approach

We have set out our high-level ambition for Natural England to become a leader in the environmental sector for equality, diversity, and inclusion, and nature recovery. Our actions are based on evidence and is supported by:

Everyone at Natural England is responsible for delivering actions to support equality, diversity, and inclusion organisational delivery.

3. Strategic objectives

Natural England has 5 strategic objectives that will support the delivery of equality, diversity, and inclusion internally and externally:

  • improve accountability, governance, resilience, communications and engagement
  • attract and retain diverse talent
  • invest in people
  • foster an inclusive culture
  • improve our understanding and the ways we work with the community

The last objective primarily focuses on the way we deliver equality, diversity, and inclusion externally. It also includes Natural England’s aim to:

  • contribute to the enhancement of access to green and blue spaces within a 15-minute walk
  • reduce barriers like physical challenges, lack of confidence and access to information

4. Delivery and assurance

We will deliver momentum on equality, diversity, and inclusion through the:

  • Natural England’s action plan 2024 to 2025
  • the Connecting People with Nature portfolio work
  • Natural England equality, diversity, and inclusion action plan
  • State of the Sector route map

We will use evidence and regularly monitor, evaluate, and report on progress.

5. Governance and accountability

A clear line of governance comes down from the Natural England board including a dedicated equality, diversity, and inclusion champion. This follows through to the Natural England executive committee who delegate responsibility to the people committee and the portfolio committee. Action is subsequently driven through the equality, diversity and inclusion and Connecting People with Nature teams. Both teams work collaboratively and across Defra group to ensure internal and external delivery is aligned and meaningful change is delivered.   We have established EDI Steering and Delivery Groups to better coordinate organisational efforts.

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