Equality and diversity helpdesk

Equality and diversity helpdesk and business workshops
(tel: 0845 609 6611)


Equality Matters in Business (EMB) (a project covering HIE and Scottish Enterprise) has launched an equality and diversity helpdesk through the Scottish Enterprise Business Gateway. This helpdesk offers support to businesses and business advisers within the Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise areas. It offers email and telephone support on all aspects of implementing equality and diversity in the workplace, in addition to highlighting the business growth opportunities available to them.

The helpline gives free confidential and impartial information in relation to legislation, employment issues, delivery of goods and services into the equality market and also legislation and good practice surrounding public sector tendering.

In conjunction with the launch of the helpdesk, EMB is currently rolling out a series of workshops for businesses all over Scotland. These events offer organisations the chance to learn more about the equality strands and the legislation surrounding these groups :- gender, religion or belief, age, disability, race and sexual orientation.

It also helps businesses understand the business benefits of a diverse workforce :-

  • offering huge employment potential;
  • better understanding of new and diverse markets;
  • greater understanding of diverse customers;
  • understanding issues around equality and procurement.

At the workshops businesses receive guidance on how they can improve market penetration through the equality and diversity agenda.

Workshops run to date have been a great success, covering information given by ACAS on equality and diversity, local demographic information, and excellent case studies from companies keen to share their experiences.

If you have any questions about the helpdesk or business events you can contact the project team on the following numbers :-

For helpdesk queries
Breda Moran
tel 0141 228 2187
Breda.Moran@scotent.co.uk

Business event queries
Irene Thomson
tel: 0141 228 2261
Irene.Thomson@scotent.co.uk 

Alternatively please contact Liz Scott
HIE’s equalities manager
tel. 01463 244206
liz.scott@hient.co.uk