Corporate report

Government Science and Engineering Profession diversity and inclusion strategy

Updated 15 February 2022

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gse-profession-diversity-and-inclusion-strategy/government-science-and-engineering-profession-diversity-and-inclusion-strategy

1. Our mission

The Government Science and Engineering Profession values the diversity of science and engineering skills found in government. It is a profession where everybody’s STEM talent or interest is nurtured and celebrated, delivering world class science and engineering.

The success of the Profession goes beyond skills, it is also about all our people, our culture, how we reach decisions, ensuring that we offer opportunities that are inclusive, that our achievements are celebrated and shared, that we listen to others that have different experiences to our own to build empathy. We are a profession who believes that being inclusive of our diversity enriches us all.

2. Our vision

The GSE Profession is regarded by its members as a brilliant profession to work in, for everyone, as we are the community we represent. As the GSEP, we want to:

  • leverage cross-government networks to increase the diversity of our members
  • increase the diversity of evidence and expertise used
  • ensure an inclusive environment for scientists and engineers within government

We will achieve this by recognising the value and strength in our diversity, ensuring all GSE voices are heard whilst supporting our members to achieve their potential in STEM. Our pursuit of equity is essential to our success and embedding diversity and inclusivity throughout our work enhancing what we do, improving outcomes, ideas and ultimately our decision-making.

3. Our approach

This strategy aims to ensure flexible and fair treatment of all our members, by ensuring we listen to and incorporate their views and ideas, resulting in fair outcomes and equal access for all in the GSEP. This strategy details how we, as the GSEP, plan to meet the goals set out in the ‘Inclusivity’ theme of the 2021 GSEP strategy. The strategy will be updated regularly, adapting responsively to changing needs of our members and government.

We want to empower GSEP members in building a representative workforce at all levels. This involves mindfully working towards integrating and embedding inclusive approaches across all aspects of the working environment.

Working collaboratively with the GSE Diversity and Inclusion Action Group (DIAG), we will drive the delivery of solutions and interventions to meet systematic challenges within science and engineering. DIAG is made up of members at all grades and roles from across the Profession and is an integral partner, ensuring that the Profession stays connected and aligned to its members’ needs. DIAG’s aim is to support growing a truly inclusive work environment to result in improved performance delivered through a confident workforce and strong, accountable leadership.

The strategy will feature 5 key goals:

  • Data
  • Governance
  • People and culture
  • Promoting and celebrating diversity and inclusion
  • Interventions to increase GSE diversity

These were areas highlighted as needing improvement by members through GSE-led focus groups. By focusing on these areas, the Profession will be able to ensure SMART objectives and actions are in place to drive success.

4. Our goals, objectives and plans

You can access our work goals, objectives and plans as a PDF document or as an accessible HTML document.

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