We recognise that our people are our strength and are, in no small measure, responsible for the success of our business. We treat them with the care and respect that they deserve and, where we can practically do so, endeavour to help them to realise their professional and life aspirations.
If we have a need to source skills, we are committed to a policy of equal opportunities for all employees and to ensuring within the framework of the law that our workplaces are free from unlawful or unfair discrimination on the grounds of colour, race, age, nationality, ethnic or national origin, gender (including gender reassignment), marital or civil partnership status, disability, sexual orientation, pregnancy or pregnancy-related reasons and religious or philosophical beliefs.
Our sole criteria are suitable and appropriate expertise, experience, potential and attitudinal fit to match the opportunity, and our selection procedures will be reviewed from time to time to ensure that they are appropriate for achieving our objectives and for avoiding unlawful discrimination. We aim to ensure that our staff achieve their full potential and that all employment decisions are taken without reference to irrelevant or discriminatory criteria.
All staff are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that is not discriminatory and we will take all possible steps to ensure that equal opportunity is maintained. These steps will include:
Using fair and objective criteria in recruitment and employment decisions
Person and job specifications being limited to those requirements which are necessary for the effective performance of the job
Interviews will be conducted on an objective basis
Where possible, reviewing working patterns to enable us to offer flexible working to staff who require it
Where necessary, making special provision for staff returning to work following a break for domestic reasons
In our dealings and relationships with others, our guiding beliefs are that every individual:
Is capable of making a positive contribution
Should be encouraged and helped to do so
Must be treated with dignity and fairness
Is entitled to respect
We extend this philosophy to our relationships with clients, suppliers and partners.