Diversity and Inclusion
We’re aiming to create a truly inclusive business here at FCDO Services – and we recognise our part to play in helping change the balance of diversity in the technology and construction industries too. Every day, we make great strides in that together, and though we have much further to go in our journey, we’re proud of the progress we make together – like becoming Founding Members of Stonewall’s Proud Employers, and being recognised for our work as Finalists at this year’s Recruitment Industry Disability Initiative (RIDI) Awards
But what does a truly inclusive business feel like? It’s where you can be yourself, no holding back. Where you can be appreciated for who you really are and recognised for the contribution you make.
It’s where the whole team makes a conscious effort to understand and support each other’s cultures, backgrounds, experiences. Where training is given across the business to help us all do that better.
It’s where you’re supported to do your best work. Where your managers care about trying to meet your needs, from the right working conditions and tools, to the right work patterns.
That’s the environment we want for everyone at FCDO Services – and we work hard every day to achieve that. And while we’ve got further to go together, we’re proud of the progress we’re making so far.
Creating a consciously inclusive environment takes constant work from all of us together. So, what have we been up to recently? Explore our efforts here:
We’re proud to say that our Black History Month celebrations in 2020 were among our biggest yet, with a series of brilliant speakers, virtual social events and all staff calls. Colleagues from across FCDO Services took part, celebrating the Black British community and marking where we can all be better allies. Find out more about what we got up to here.
From panel discussions to guest speakers, virtual coffee mornings to online training sessions, National Inclusion Week saw colleagues from across teams and across networks making new connections. We were proud to see our colleagues come together to support and understand one another’s challenges and needs, and you can read all about it here.
Partnering with the Naz Legacy Foundation, we met virtually with 53 young people, aged 14-16, living in disadvantaged parts of London. Our colleagues shared their experiences as former apprentices and as network champions, and helped our participants see a bright future with our welcoming, supportive team. Learn more here.
We want to be inclusive of everyone’s needs from application onwards – so we partnered with Recite Me to make sure that our site caters for visual impairments, learning disabilities and more. Click Accessibility Tools at the top of the page and you’ll see just one of many features that make the site more accessible for all.
Mental health is important to every single one of our colleagues, and it’s important that we talk about it without stigma. That’s why we took time out of our working days with a recent Tea and Talk session in support of World Mental Health Day.
Aimed to help bring more women into engineering, our virtual work shadowing day with the Women’s Engineering Society allowed female students to find out what it’s like to be part of FCDO Services, hearing from senior female leaders and finding role models within our inclusive organisation. Find out what they learned here.
As Stonewall Diversity Champions, we’re always proud to support the LGBTQ+ community – particularly on our own doorstep in Milton Keynes, where we attended the MK: Pride Festival. We also advertise all our roles on the Proud Employers jobsite, specifically for LGBTQ+ candidates.
Every colleague here takes on Unconscious Bias training
43% female-identifying Executive Board members – a 14% increase since 2018
No industry should be closed to you because of your gender identity. From Engineering to IT to Construction, we strive for equality both here and in the wider industry. Here’s a podcast with just some of our female-identifying Engineers, talking about their experience.
We’re proud to be a Disability Confident employer
We provide support and training as Employers for Carers
There’s work still to do, both within our organisation and within the tech and construction industries, but we’re proud of the steps we’ve taken so far. In 2018-19, we saw more representation for every cultural group. More equality. More promotions. And more colleagues than ever who felt they could be their whole selves:
This course is mandatory for all colleagues, helping us treat colleagues equally.
This mandatory course trains colleagues in equality legislation and how to tackle inappropriate behaviour.
This course gives colleagues the understanding and confidence to help colleagues in distress.
With video and digital learning, this training helps us all support each other’s mental health, as well as our own.
Essential for managers, this course tackles how to spot and stop bullying, harassment and discrimination.
This course helps managers and teams alike to support staff with care responsibilities.
Delivered to 117 leaders so far across the business, this course helps managers train to support and improve the wellbeing of their team.
If you’re transitioning from the armed forces into FCDO Services, you’ll be in very good company. We’re experienced employers for ex-forces colleagues, working with CTP among other organisations, and we need people with skillsets just like yours. Because of that, there are ex-forces personnel across our organisation, so you’ll always have people you can turn to for advice and support – as well as a team around you who’ll help you adjust.
Every colleague should have a workplace and a working pattern that meets their needs and enables their best work. As a Disability Confident employer, we offer and make adjustments for anyone who needs it.
That could include:
We also make reasonable adjustments in our application and interview process, and you can find out about that on our How to apply page.
For more on how Workplace Adjustment Passports can help, you can find out about the experiences of colleagues across the Civil Service here.
Mind, the mental health charity, estimates that every year, 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health issue. We’re making sure that our colleagues are supported, and that they know how to support each other. That includes:
Want to join FCDO Services but can’t see a live role to suit you? Great news: you can sign up for job alerts or add your CV to our talent pool and we’ll be in touch when something comes up.