We were awarded the framework agreement for Learning and Development Provision for Defra in June 2005 and the Global Diversity Practice were successful in becoming the preferred supplier of Diversity Training and Consultancy which also encompasses core Defra and all Defra agencies. This was delivered over a three year period and reflected all equality and diversity learning needs for Defra.

We have been awarded 7 core interventions as part of this framework agreement and this includes:

• Equality and Diversity Awareness
• Under Representation of Minority groups
• Legislation
• Diversity & Policy Making
• Stress Management
• Bullying & Harassment
• Coping with change
• Work Life Balance

In addition to this we are required to meet the individual needs of departments within Defra who could request bespoke consultancy and training. This has included Diversity one to one coaching, seminars and facilitation of away-days and also Diversity training with the many agencies of Defra including the Environment agencies and Food standard agencies.

We delivered on many of these interventions including Equality and Diversity 1 day and 2 day specialists’ workshops and also Unlocking potential -Under Representation of minority groups workshop, details of which are outlined below. We have delivered these workshops nationally in all Defra constituencies .We are maintaining a rigorous project management regime and delivering to client satisfaction

Equality and Diversity workshop Objectives

• Raise awareness of the value of diversity in the workplace
• To understand the legal, ethical and moral dimensions
• Demystify terminology surrounding diversity
• To understand the impact of exclusion, stereotyping and discrimination on individuals, teams within Defra.
• To develop confidence and ownership by taking personal responsibility for creating and maintaining a diverse work place
• To utilise best practice diversity principles into everyday working life in partnership with Defra stakeholders and delivery partners
• Establish the link between the Defra ‘Big Five Leadership Behaviours’ and diversity
• To develop strategies and action plan to put ‘diversity into practice’
• To identify other learning experiences and sources of information to aid further learning and understanding

This course has been designed through close working with the Diversity & Equality Unit in Defra to ensure that the content of the course was in alignment with Defra’s current Diversity strategies and initiatives including The Big 5 Leadership Behaviours & the Defra Diversity Toolkit.

All employees are actively encouraged to attend this course and are provided with action learning logs to take back in to the workplace and work towards improvement of their own personal diversity awareness together with their line managers.

Equality and Diversity workshops for Specialists
This is a series of 2 day workshop for Specialists including HR Managers and is an extension of the 1 day course to include the Business Case for Diversity and the legal team responsibilities. We will be delivering this intervention to middle and senior management within Defra including members of the SCS from March 2005 onwards.

Unlocking Potential -Under Representation of Minority groups workshop
Following the latest Diversity Strategic Review from the Cabinet Office we were asked to deliver a series of workshops which addressed not only under representation of women in management but also ethnic minority groups and disability groups.

This course ensures that Defra takes on board the recommendations of the Diversity ten-point plan issued by the Cabinet office in November 2005. The course aim is to encourage under-represented groups to look at any possible barriers preventing them from reaching their full career potential in the workplace by providing them with appropriate communication and practical skills to instil confidence and aid progression.

The target groups contribute to developing the talent stream for Defra and thereby extend the feeder grade with representation from a wide range of groups. This training also enables Defra to demonstrate its commitment to achieving the targets for under represented groups in post at the respective management grades.

We are working closely with the staff networks in Defra to ensure this programme is a success and .we will also be liaising with the National School for Government to ensure our intervention is aligned with the cross government learning intervention .We have also taken on board the principles and ethos of the Award winning Accelerator partnerships scheme to increase the numbers of women in to the SCS.

Bullying and Harassment workshops
We have also developed a series of Bullying and Harassment workshops for Defra staff to encourage an inclusive working environment. We have delivered these as half day workshops and the focus is on;

• The legal, management and personal issues relating to bullying and harassment,
• The behaviours that constitute bullying and harassment and what staff can do if they think they or others are being subjected to it,
• How our behaviours impact on others, how we perceive things differently, how we can avoid becoming the victims of bullying.
• Defra’s own procedures for dealing with bullying and harassment.

Disability Awareness
We are the preferred supplier for Disability Awareness for Defra and we are currently delivering disability awareness programmes for Defra staff. The aim of these workshops is to familiarise staff and managers with their responsibilities under the Disability Discrimination Act and to introduce them to the social model of disability discrimination so that they are able to identify disability discrimination and promote good practice within DEFRA.

Workshop Objectives

• Explore the barriers that disabled staff face and share practical good practice
• Promote how to tackle disability discrimination in the workplace
• Explore the requirements of a Disability Equality Scheme and to raise awareness of related legislation
• Address the underemployment of disabled people
• Raise awareness of the role of the Job Centre Plus Disability Employment Services and other organisations working to increase the employment opportunities of people with disabilities
• Explore and share disability etiquette

We have delivered these workshops with great success and we are also now in discussion with the sponsor for British Sign Language Awareness programme.

We provide added value to this contract through working alongside our client, the learning and development team as well as the Equality and Diversity Unit.

Additional services we provide include:

• Working with other suppliers under framework to present a streamlined training approach for Defra.
• Project Management/Contract Review meetings and providing best practice guidance to Defra on best practice diversity learning for example we have regular strategy meetings with the Head of Diversity at Defra.