The Civil Service is at its best when it reflects the diversity of the country as a whole and is able to understand what the public needs. When people from diverse backgrounds are involved in creating the public services we all rely on, we get better services that work for everyone. For these reasons, the is taking targeted action to tackle underrepresentation, especially in the Senior Civil Service.

Specifically to the Cabinet Office, we have undergone significant change since 2010. Business Units and Corporate Services have been considering the impact of the Equality Act on the delivery of units’ business objectives.

As an employer, the Cabinet Office is committed to the Civil Service ambition to become the UK’s most inclusive employer by 2020. We will continue to:

• Increase the representation of currently under-represented groups to make Cabinet Office more diverse; Cabinet Office is committed to “Recruiting, retaining and developing a diverse workforce that is representative of the wider population, particularly at senior levels.”
• build an inclusive environment, where colleagues are able to be themselves at work and feel supported, empowered, valued, respected, fairly treated and able to achieve their full potential.

As an inclusive employer we will not tolerate discrimination. Our HR policies are fully inclusive of all staff regardless of:

• age
• disability
• gender reassignment
• marriage and civil partnership
• pregnancy and maternity
• race
• religion or belief
• sex
• sexual orientation