Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at TASK Academy
TASK Academy is committed to eliminating unlawful discrimination and promoting Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) within its work with staff, students and wider stakeholders.
We strongly believe that landscaping, gardening and horticulture is for everyone and that our work and our community should reflect that. We recognise the value that diversity brings and actively invest in improving the diversity of talent joining and developing within the sector. We understand that a diverse and inclusive team of staff is important for us to engage and support a more diverse student community. We ask that broader stakeholders support us in our EDI aims and principles. We acknowledge that achieving equity, diversity and inclusion is challenging and will require persistence and a continued long-term commitment.
TASK Academy has the following EDI aims:
We aim to be an inclusive organisation, where all staff and students are treated fairly, with dignity and have equitable opportunities, so they can belong, contribute, perform, progress, and thrive.
We aim to deliver inclusive services, so that the diverse needs of customers and students are heard, considered, and acted on. We draw on our diverse experience, skills and perspectives to deliver this
We aim to achieve positive social impact, through supporting EDI initiatives within the wider sector and those being championed by our customers and sponsors.
TASK Academy are legally required to:
Abide by the Equality Act 2010 that prohibits direct or indirect discrimination on the basis of the following protected characteristics: Age; Disability; Gender reassignment; Race; Marriage and civil partnership; Pregnancy and maternity; Religion/beliefs; Sex; and Sexual orientation.
With consideration of both protected characteristics and also broader diverse identities, (e.g. socioeconomic status), we recognise our responsibility to:
Inspire participation and attract a more diverse community.
Identify and evaluate talent and performance fairly, based on capability and potential.
Provide fair access to training and development.
Encourage everyone to contribute, to progress, and to fulfil their true potential.
Offer adapted support to ensure equity of opportunity. See below for further information on “reasonable adjustments” for TASK students.
Promote a safe, supportive and respectful environment free of bullying or harassment.
Celebrate the value of all staff, students and stakeholders regardless of their identity and background
Listen and respond to views of the whole community, providing a safe channel to raise concerns.
Share responsibility for delivering equity, diversity and inclusion across the whole TASK community.
Monitor performance against our EDI aims and hold ourselves to account where we fall short.
Endeavour to keep improving and refining the inclusivity of our processes and practices.
Share our learning and successes externally to support change across the sector.
Review this policy regularly to ensure it stays relevant and impactful.
Reasonable adjustments for TASK students
Reasonable adjustments (access arrangements) for students will be made in accordance with guidance provided by LANTRA to enable those with a specific, ongoing need to have the opportunity to achieve the qualification. Any reasonable adjustments should not confer unfair advantage for the student, but only be agreed where it is established there is a genuine need.
As per TASK’s terms and conditions, students are required to disclose their reasonable adjustment information to TASK whether physical and/or learning, a minimum of 14 days prior to registering for the course to enable the appropriate support to be put in place.
Where reasonable adjustments or access arrangements are agreed for a student on a LANTRA accredited course, TASK will notify the relevant awarding organisation.
Promoting a safe, supportive and respectful environment
TASK Academy is committed to taking steps that promote a safe, supportive and respectful environment. Responsibility for maintaining this is shared across the whole TASK community; including staff, students and wider stakeholders. However, TASK Academy recognises its own particular responsibility in communicating what is and isn’t acceptable behaviour; doing what it can to prevent unacceptable behaviour; and taking action if behaviour falls short of expectations. TASK Academy will not permit or condone any form of bullying, harassment, or direct discrimination within work and study places, or within work-related travel or social events. These are defined as follows (www.acas.org.uk):
Bullying is any unwanted behaviour from a person or group that is offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting; or which is an abuse or misuse of power that undermines, humiliates, or causes physical or emotional harm to someone. It does not have to relate to a protected characteristic. It could be a one-off event or a regular pattern of behaviour. It is not always obvious to others when it occurs. Someone may not be aware their behaviour is bullying or may not have intended to bully someone.
Harassment is any unwanted behaviour related to the following legally protected characteristics: Age; Disability; Gender reassignment; Race; Religion/beliefs; Sex; and Sexual orientation. This is whether the individual has, or is thought to have, that characteristic; or is connected to someone else with the characteristic. The behaviour must have violated the person’s dignity; or created an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for the person. It could be a serious one-off incident or a repeated behaviour. It can be harassment even if it was not intended to have this effect; but where the individual could reasonably be expected to perceive it that way. Harassment may occur through witnessing someone else receiving the behaviour. Harassment may occur when someone is treated less favourably because of how they responded to previous harassment, whether that meant them rejecting or ‘submitting to’ the previous harassment.
Direct discrimination is when someone is put at a disadvantage or treated less favourably because of a 'protected characteristic'. This covers all the protected characteristics under harassment but also covers marriage and civil partnership; and pregnancy and maternity.
TASK Academy recognises that there may be instances where behaviour falls short of acceptable standards. In this case we provide the following steps for staff, students and wider stakeholders to raise their concerns:
We encourage individuals to informally raise their concerns with the person involved, if they feel it is safe to do so. The person may not be aware of the impact they have had.
If the individual chooses to raise a formal complaint, this should be raised with [NAME]. The complaint should describe the behaviour, the dates, the circumstances and the impact.
It will be investigated in a timely, confidential and sensitive way by someone independent of the complaint, who is appropriately trained or experienced.
Both parties will be informed of any decision and appropriate steps taken to manage ongoing working relationships between parties.
The decision may lead to disciplinary action against the person named in the complaint, with a record kept on their staff or student file (in accordance with data protection policies).
If the person named is external to TASK Academy, then steps will be taken to prevent a recurrence.
TASK Academy recommends the following actions to prevent bullying and harassment:
Actively discuss, and familiarise yourself with, what is or isn’t appropriate behaviour, what the law says, and what fits with TASK Academy’s own commitments to EDI.
Pay attention to the impact your behaviour might have on others.
Take deliberate steps to make the environment feel safe, supportive and respectful.
Ask questions to check if others find your behaviour inclusive and to find out how to improve.
Seek to change your behaviour if others perceive it as bullying, harassment or discrimination.
Be supportive of those who raise concerns, enabling these to be considered respectfully.
Speak up if you witness another person behaving in a way that undermines inclusion.
Offer your help to those who you believe may be receiving unwanted behaviours.
This policy and guidance has been developed in collaboration between TASK Academy and Brew People Limited, specialists in EDI. It reflects current legal requirements and best practice in 2023 and should be reviewed regularly and updated as needed.