Charter marks

The University of Reading is proud to receive recognition for our work in supporting staff and students in underrepresented groups.

Athena SWAN

The Athena SWAN Charter promotes gender equality: representation, progression and success for all. It focuses specifically on the advancement of women's careers across higher education in all academic fields; this includes women working as academics and researchers as well as those working in professional and support roles. The charter also promotes and recognises work that supports trans staff and students.

We hold an Athena Swan Silver Award at the University level, which makes us one of a small group of universities to hold this award.

See this link for our most recent submission (redacted) and action plan.

We're also proud to hold Athena Swan awards in the following Schools, with the majority at Silver level:

• School of Agriculture, Policy and Development (Bronze Award)
• School of the Built Environment (Silver Award)
• School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences (Silver Award)
• School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science (Silver Award)
• School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences (Silver Award)
• School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy (Silver Award)
• School of School of Politics, Economics and International Relations (Bronze Award)
• Henley Business School (Bronze Award)

Race Equality Charter

The Race Equality Charter Mark was introduced by the Equality Challenge Unit in 2015 and provides a framework for universities to identify and reflect on any institutional or cultural barriers affecting staff or students.

We have been a member of the Race Equality Charter since 2016 and in July 2018 submitted our analysis and an ambitious 4 year action plan to Advance-HE / ECU. Unfortunately we were not successful but received very valuable recommendations and feedback.

You can read more about the action plan here:

University of Reading REC Action Plan 2018 - 2021

REC Action Plan Launch

We were proud to receive a Bronze Race Equality Charter Mark award in January 2023.

The award builds on the Race Equality Review, led by Deputy-Vice-Chancellor Professor Parveen Yaqoob and Diversity & Inclusion Dean Professor Allán Laville, which laid out 20 recommendations to ensure fairer and more equal treatment for all staff and students when it was published in May 2021.

Stonewall Workplace Equality Index

The University has decided to pause its involvement with the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index in 2023 for reasons we have detailed on Diverse Reading. We have spoken to Nancy Kelly, chief executive of Stonewall, about our concerns with the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index and, as a result, we have been asked to work with Stonewall in their strategic review of the index, which we will be happy to participate in.

We want to better support meaningful LGBT+ inclusion at the University of Reading, which is why we have launched a new LGBT+ Inclusion Fund for 2022/23. Funding is earmarked for inclusion projects, pitched by University staff and students, to support the wider University LGBT+ Action Plan and further advance LGBT+ inclusion for all our community.

The University’s LGBT+ Action Plan Group works to develop and monitor the implementation of a programme of actions that ensure that the University provides an environment that is welcoming, inclusive, and supportive to its LGBT+ staff and students and is engaged with, and acts on, issues raised by its LGBT+ communities.

You can read more about the work of the LGBT+ Action Plan group and the associated action plan here:

Terms of Reference and Membership of the LGBT Plus Action Plan Group

University LGBT Plus Action Plan

Investors in People

The University has two Investor in People accreditations:

• The University of Reading Library (Silver, 2014)
• Estates and Facilities (Gold, 2015)

Investors in People accreditation recognises well-trained and motivated staff, continuous improvement in services, and staff who believe their training and development needs are understood and valued by their organisation and managers - all of which are supported by a strong emphasis on equality and diversity.