Employment and discrimination

Staff at Edge Hill have been sharing their research findings on discrimination in access to jobs at a series of northwest seminars.

The series, delivered by the Sequal project*, includes events aimed at the voluntary sector, training providers, policy makers and employers to explain the complexities of discrimination, employability and social exclusion.

The final event, at Wigan Investment Centre this Thursday, is aimed at training managers, colleges, community and voluntary organisations based on the theme of developing training and skills to ensure a labour market open to all.

John Diamond, a researcher with Edge Hill?s Centre for Local Policy Studies** said:

"The Centre has been working with higher education institutions across the UK to investigate areas of discrimination for groups who experience considerable disadvantage. We have been working with institutions that have experience in community education, development and regeneration, as well as other national organisations in the public private and voluntary sectors. The aim is to enhance understanding and share complex issues for strategy and policy development."

The Sequal project has worked on areas of discrimination to include race and ethnicity, religious and political belief, sexual orientation, disability, age, gender and social class and is led by the University of Surrey.

John Diamond said: "We have worked with local employers and community groups to gain an understanding of how discrimination affects equal access in a labour market that purports to be open to all. We hope that by sharing our findings we can have a direct impact on improving equality in employment and in training."

ENDS EDITOR?S NOTES: *The Sequal Development Partnership was drawn from higher education institutions in England, Scotland and Wales that have experience in community education, development and regeneration. Sequal is funded by the European Social Fund, under the Equal Community Initiative Programme.

**Edge Hill?s Centre for Local Policy Studies, established in 1993, specialises in research and consultancy in public policy and management. It brings together a range of skills and expertise within the field of local and regional governance, community and voluntary organisations, equality and diversity, regeneration and social inclusion. For further information visit: www.edgehill.ac.uk/Sites/Research/clps/