As National Inclusion Week 2024 approaches, organisations across the UK are preparing to highlight the theme, ‘Impact Matters’. This year’s focus emphasizes the importance of creating real, measurable change through inclusion and diversity initiatives. Through a series of daily themes and events, National Inclusion Week aims to guide businesses, institutions, and individuals toward fostering inclusive cultures.

The week is structured around the six pillars of inclusion: Engage, Equip, Embed, Empower, Evaluate, and Evolve. Each day presents an opportunity for organisations to reflect, learn, and implement practices that ensure everyone feels valued and heard.

Day one: Engage –  Monday 23 September

The first step in fostering an inclusive workplace is engagement. Organisations are encouraged to engage their workforce by collecting insights through surveys, focus groups, and open dialogues. Engagement helps identify gaps in inclusion and diversity efforts, enabling organisations to better understand their employees' experiences.

To explore how to build engagement in your workplace, check out the University of Sussex’s equality, diversity, and inclusion champions who offer valuable support to build inclusive behaviours within teams.

Day two: Equip – Tuesday 24 September

Day two focuses on equipping individuals and teams with the skills necessary for inclusive behaviour. This includes offering comprehensive training on EDI subjects to equip managers and staff with the right tools to sustain long-term culture change. At Sussex we have various online resources on organisational development as well as a range of equality and diversity courses. Additionally, the recently launched Dignity, Respect and Inclusion Policy  sets out clear expectations for inclusive behaviours across our campus, helping to create a supportive and respectful environment for all.

Day three: Embed – Wednesday 25 September

Embedding inclusion means ensuring that diversity and equity are not one-off initiatives but integral parts of the organisation's strategy. This day encourages organisations to align inclusion with their corporate values and set clear lines of accountability.

The University of Sussex provides a clear roadmap to embedding inclusion into our Inclusive Sussex strategy, showing the importance of long-term commitment to inclusive practices. We also encourage these conversations through Achievement Development Reviews (ADRs), which include a section on values and EDI, prompting staff to reflect on how these align with their day-to-day work.

Day four: Empower – Thursday 26 September

Empowering employees—particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds—is the focus of day four. Managers play a crucial role in creating an environment where all voices are heard and respected. You can also check out our Leadership and Management development programmes  to learn how we empower managers to foster inclusive leadership.

The University of Sussex has numerous staff networks aimed at empowering marginalised communities, supporting their professional growth, and contributing to an inclusive organisational culture. To explore the work being done by underrepresented groups, visit our Black at Sussex webpage to see our work to amplify the voices of Black students and staff at the University of Sussex.

Day five: Evaluate – Friday 27 September

Organisations need to assess their progress regularly to ensure that their inclusion initiatives are effective. Evaluation through metrics, feedback, and data helps highlight areas for improvement. Check out the University of Sussex Equality and Diversity Charter work to see how we continue to track progress and ensure continued accountability in inclusion efforts.

For more specific data, review our Pay Gap Reports and Equal Pay Reviews  to see our progress towards closing the pay gap.

Day six: Evolve – Saturday 28 September

The final day, Evolve, is about continuous learning and innovation. Inclusion is not a static goal but an evolving process that must adapt to new challenges and opportunities. Encouraging curiosity, collaboration, and cross-institutional initiatives is key to sustaining inclusive change.

The University of Sussex’s resources and publications offer insights into EDI work and objectives at Sussex.

Building Impact that Matters

National Inclusion Week 2024 challenges all of us to reflect on our inclusion strategies and make sure that the impact we’re striving for is tangible and long-lasting. At the University of Sussex we offer a range of resources to help embed inclusion and foster a culture of equality. By actively engaging, equipping, embedding, empowering, evaluating, and evolving, we can all contribute to a future where inclusion isn’t just an aspiration, but a reality.

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