At Food Compliance HQ, we are committed to creating an environment that is inclusive and free from discrimination. We strive to ensure our company reflects the diversity of the UK and its communities, promoting equality for all our clients, colleagues, and partners. As part of this commitment, we have developed a comprehensive Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) policy to guide our workplace practices and activities.
Our EDI policy centres around five core principles:
1. No Discrimination
We will not tolerate discrimination against any person based on the nine protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010. These protected characteristics are:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender reassignment
- Marriage and civil partnership
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race
- Religion or belief
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
We promote equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of their background.
2. Respectful Communication & Behaviour
We expect all colleagues and partners to treat each other, as well as our clients, respectfully. We are committed to fostering an environment where communication is open, professional, and inclusive. This includes creating a safe space where everyone feels free to express opinions without fear of judgement or ridicule.
3. Openness & Accountability
We recognise that open dialogue is essential to building a truly inclusive culture at Food Compliance HQ. We encourage honest discussions around EDI policies and initiatives. Our management team remains accountable for implementing relevant changes and ensuring we promote equal opportunities effectively for all team members.
4. Training & Development
To ensure our teams are equipped with the tools to foster an inclusive environment, we provide regular training programmes. These include topics such as human rights, unconscious bias awareness, and equality, diversity, and inclusion. Attendance at these sessions is essential for all employees to understand the importance of treating everyone fairly and with respect.
5. Positive Attitude Towards Change
We understand that meaningful progress takes time. At Food Compliance HQ, we remain open to feedback and committed to making changes to our EDI policies that help us meet our goals more effectively. All team members are encouraged to bring forward ideas that foster a diverse and respectful workplace culture.
Core Values of Our Business
Equality, diversity, and inclusion are deeply rooted in the core values and ethos at Food Compliance HQ.
Our values are clearly communicated to all employees. Our Directors and Leadership team lead by example, setting the standards for everyday practice and inspiring others to uphold them.
Key Principles
Key principles to building our equal, diverse, and inclusive workforce include:
- Effective and clear communication
- Defined expectations for all team members
- Promotion of core values and ethos
- Equal opportunities for growth and success
- Regular team collaboration and meetings
- Valuing and respecting every individual.
Equal Opportunities
In the UK, equal opportunities in recruitment ensure that talented individuals are considered fairly, regardless of their protected characteristics. At Food Compliance HQ, we ensure:
- Fair recruitment processes for all applicants
- Equal treatment in assessing skills and experience
- Reasonable adjustments for applicants or employees with disabilities
- Equal access to promotions, benefits, and opportunities
- Fair complaints procedures with no fear of reprisal
Recruitment Process
Our recruitment process is designed to ensure fairness and eliminate bias:
- Job advertisements are accessible and posted in multiple locations
- Job descriptions are transparent and aligned with role criteria
- CVs are anonymised to remove names and sensitive information
- Multiple interviewers assess each applicant
- Interview questions are consistent and relevant to the role
- Personal characteristics are never considered in hiring decisions
- A fair pay scale applies to all roles
We also provide:
- Reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities
- Language support when necessary
- No questions regarding health or disabilities during recruitment.
Note: Failing to offer a candidate a role due to a protected characteristic is a direct discrimination offence under UK law.
Reasonable Adjustments
We are committed to making workplace adjustments to accommodate employees with disabilities. Examples include:
- Modifying buildings, equipment, or workstations
- Providing accessible parking spaces
- Adjusting duties or workloads
- Allowing regular breaks
- Assigning mentors for support
- Conducting workplace disability audits
Delivery of Our Service to Clients
We are dedicated to:
- Providing services that treat all individuals fairly and without discrimination
- Embedding equality, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do
- Offering flexibility and making necessary reasonable adjustments when required
- Monitoring and acting on client feedback to deliver the highest standards of service
At Food Compliance HQ, our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion ensures that every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered to succeed.
