Equality & Diversity

APUC’s Aims

We are an organisation which recognises the contribution of all our staff. Our aims are to be supportive, fair, just and free from discrimination. In line with these objectives, we will challenge discrimination on the grounds of gender, race, marital status, age, disability, sexuality and faith; actively promote Equality and Diversity; and ensure that the legislation and policy requirements within the six strands of Equality and Diversity are implemented into all our working practices.

Action

Our vision for Equality and Diversity goes beyond establishing processes to achieve change. As part of our interaction with our member institutions and suppliers, we will monitor progress made towards meeting objectives to:

• encourage diversity and eliminate unfair treatment and discrimination through a full range of human resource and contracting policies and procedures. This applies not just to areas of internal recruitment, training and development and promotion, but also to monitoring adherence to the equality and diversity legislation and principles by our suppliers and contactors;
• recognise that staff have rights as employees to work in a supportive, safe and harassment-free environment and that staff have individual and collective responsibility to value and respect each other’s contributions;
• promote an environment where standards of conduct are of the highest level and to ensure that no-one is harassed, bullied or victimised;
• take decisive action when discrimination occurs.

Procurement

In respect of our procurement activities:

• we will ensure that the purchase of goods, services and facilities is undertaken in line with our equality and diversity commitments;
• we will not use suppliers who do not share our values on equality of opportunity and diversity;
• we will establish procedures to ensure that businesses from diverse communities have an equal opportunity of competing for collaborative procurement contracts to supply goods and services to the Scottish universities and further education colleges;
• we will develop and publish guidelines for Corporate Social Responsibility in our Procurement Manual, describing the procedures and processes to be followed by all staff involved in the procurement process.

In addition, procurement staff will adhere to the Scottish Procurement Directorate’s Business Conduct Guidelines and APUC’s Race Equality Collaborative Procurement Guidelines.

Employment

In regard to employment:

• we will not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, marital status, age, disability, sexuality or faith in the allocation of duties between staff employed in any post or posts with comparable job descriptions;
• all employees will be considered solely on their merits for career development and promotion with equal opportunities for all;
• all employees of APUC are required to comply with the company’s equality aims and to treat colleagues with dignity and respect;
• we support and adhere to family-friendly and flexible working policies.

Training

In regard to training:

• we  are developing a strategic training plan that will enable us to become a leading learning organisation within the public procurement field;
• employees will be provided with appropriate training regardless of gender, race, marital status, age, disability, sexuality or faith.

Discrimination and Victimisation

In regard to discrimination and victimisation:

• we respect the dignity of all our employees and value the contribution they make in the workplace. We are committed to providing a working environment that is free from bullying and harassment and in which everyone is treated with respect;
• we will not tolerate this type of behaviour and will deal with any complaints of bullying and harassment promptly, fairly, and in confidence, in accordance with the policies and procedures set out in our Staff Handbook. If, after investigation, it is found that bullying and harassment has occurred, action will be taken under APUC’s Disciplinary Procedure.