To drive and monitor our strategic approach and ensure we meet our legal obligations, we have a comprehensive governance structure which is led by Stephen Penneck, Director General and ONS diversity champion.
Stephen chairs the Equality and Diversity Steering Group (EDSG) which meets quarterly and reports through the Executive Committee to the ONS board.
Members of the group include:
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our three site diversity champions
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three senior managers
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three employees at any level
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a trade union representative
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the diversity advisor
Champion and sponsor are key roles in the governance structure.
They provide visible leadership commitment to equality and diversity and demonstrate, through their close involvement, the importance that ONS places on this for our future business success.
These roles are filled by senior managers who articulate the business case for diversity at the highest levels in ONS and engage with senior colleagues to embed diversity and inclusion in departmental business, planning and processes.
Diversity Network Groups are equally important; we currently have thirteen groups across our main sites in Newport, Titchfield and London.
They advise ONS about issues related to them; support and inform colleagues; and participate in the equality impact assessment process.
The network groups consist of one or more:
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culture and ethnicity group
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work-life balance groups
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all-ages groups
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disability groups
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lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and transsexual groups
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religion or belief groups
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expatriate group
Site champions chair regular meetings bringing together chairs and sponsors of all diversity network groups on that site.
The meetings focus on both the strategic issues raised at the EDSG and the practical people issues raised via the chairs and sponsors.
They also encourage cross-group and cross-site working for events like diversity days and benchmarking exercises.
