Legal Island is absolutely delighted to award Northern Regional College with the Diversity and Inclusion Charter Mark, covering all nine of the protected characteristics in equality legislation.

Northern Regional College is the main provider of further education across four of the 11 council areas in Northern Ireland, covering a population of over 560,000. They offer a comprehensive range of qualifications for school leavers, full and part-time courses for adults, apprenticeships, professional qualifications and university accredited courses as well as providing a range of business services to support the business community.

Barry Phillips BEM, Chairman of Legal Island said the assessment panel was impressed by the extensive range of diversity and inclusion activities happening at all levels at the college.

“This award is thoroughly deserved, and we look forward to hearing more about their D&I initiatives in the future.”

Northern Regional College’s Equality and Wellbeing Manager Fiona McDowell said the award was an acknowledgement of the work being done throughout the College to promote diversity and inclusion among staff and students.

“One of the College’s underpinning values is respect for all. We are committed to the promotion of equality in all our activities and are opposed to any form of discrimination so it’s great to have our work recognised in this way.”

The Diversity and Inclusion Charter Mark is Northern Ireland's first Diversity and Inclusion Charter Mark covering all nine of the protected characteristics in equality legislation – Sex; Pregnancy or Maternity; Gender Reassignment; Married or Civil Partnership; Religious (or similar Philosophical) Belief or Political Opinion; Race; Sexual Orientation; Disability; and Age.

The Diversity and Inclusion Charter Mark is suitable for both small and large organisations, and successful applicants will understand the business case for greater workplace diversity but also accept and cherish the uniqueness of each and every employee.

Would you like your organisation to be recognised as a diverse and inclusive workplace, and celebrated as an early adopter of this brand-new initiative?

Click here for more information and to download an application form

Image: Fiona McDowell, Northern Regional College's Equality and Wellbeing Manager (left) receives the Northern Ireland Diversity and Inclusion Charter Mark certificate from Barry Phillips BEM, Chairman of Legal Island.