Equality, Diversity & INclusion
Your background is an important part of who you are, it can cause stress and impact on your career planning in a number of ways.
For example, you might be concerned that your ADHD or dyslexia won't be supported by FE college, a training provider or an employer. Or you may be concerned about disclosing a mental health diagnosis, your sexuality or that you are a care leaver.
The information and links given on this page is designed to help you feel more confident in yourself and to empower you to present your background to employers with confidence.
The Apprenticeship Diversity Champions Network (ADCN)
Stonewall_full list top 100 employers 2020
www.amazingapprenticeships.com/Find-LGBT Inclusive Employer
www.neurodiversity-celebration-week.com
www.adhdfoundation_neurodiversity celebration week
www.exceptionalindividuals.com - provide consulting, recruitment and employment support to employers and individuals with dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD and autism
www.melaninmedics.com/aspiringmedics
www.goconstruct.org/why-choose-construction/diversity-in-construction/
www.wearediverse.io/about - DIVERSE. was launched during the COVID-19 pandemic with the mission to help Black, Ethnic-Minority and candidates from low-income backgrounds into employment.
Neurodiversity is a concept that’s been around for a while. In a nutshell, it means that brain differences are just that: differences. So conditions like ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia or autism aren’t “abnormal” and should not be seen as disabling; they’re simply variations of the human brain. Some employers such as Tech companies Google, Microsoft and Apple, actively recruit neurodiverse individuals. Even major financial institutions are actively recruiting neurodiverse people.
Mid-Essex CA's Neurodiversity Celebration Week will give you more information as to why neurodiversity should be celebrated, your unique selling points if you are neurodiverse and what companies support and champion neurodiversity.
The rainbow infinity symbol, denotes neurodiversity
Identifying diversity-friendly employers
Many employers demonstrate their commitment to having a diverse workforce in a number of ways:
Look out for a company's equal opportunities policy and for any employee support networks that may exist.
Some employers run insight events or work experience schemes aimed at under-represented groups in the professions.
Some companies may have a diversity champion such as Stonewall.
There are still many careers that are considered to be 'gender dominant' and jobs will often be categorised as a male or female job.
At Mid-Essex CA we ask our community, whether it be pupils, staff or parents/carers to challenge these outdated opinions and not stereotype or pigeon hole our pupils to gender specific roles. There are a number of initiatives that Mid-Essex CA actively promote and signpost our pupils to such as Women in STEM and engineer girl both of which encourage more women to enter into traditionally male-dominated workforces.