New figures show one in ten civil servants are from BME backgrounds
The achievements of ordinary civil servants at the forefront of the drive for greater diversity and equality in the Civil Service were recognised at a ceremony in central London.
The 2014 Civil Service Diversity & Equality Awards attracted over 150 nominations in six categories from across the Civil Service and all parts of the country – an increase of 74% over last year.
The awards reflect the Civil Service’s aspiration to mirror the society it serves, and to remove the barriers to progress still faced by some because of their gender, ethnicity, disability or sexuality, particularly in senior roles.
New figures from the Office for National Statistics show that more than one in ten civil servants are from minority ethnic backgrounds (10.1%, compared with 9.6% in 2013). At the same time, the proportion of civil servants who declare a disability has risen to 8.8%, up from 8.6% last year. Women currently account for 53% of the Civil Service.
All the shortlisted entries for the Diversity & Equality Awards were examples of outstanding teams or individuals who have been innovative, have made an impact, have inspired others, and ultimately have made a real difference to equality and diversity in their area over the past 12 months.
The award winners in each category were:
Excellence in Service or Business Delivery – Disability Confident Campaign Team, Department for Work and Pensions
Employee Network – Environment Agency’s Women’s Network
Leading, Championing and Role Modelling – Sharon Drewell, Isle of Wight HM Prison Service, Ministry of Justice
Champion of Disability Issues – James Saville, Director of Human Resources, Department for International Development
Understanding and Engaging with Communities – Senior Citizen Liaison Team, Home Office
Inclusive Employment – Nita Gajiparia, Ministry of Justice
Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude said: “To deliver excellent public services for hardworking families we need the best civil servants. I want to congratulate every one of today’s award winners and nominees. Their dedication is helping to ensure that you can succeed in the Civil Service whoever you are. Our new Talent Action plan is designed to remove the barriers which stop the best from reaching the most senior positions – there’s more to do and we are determined to do it.”
Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service Sir Jeremy Heywood said: “The leadership of the Civil Service is committed to creating a truly diverse workforce that is representative of the society we serve and delivers the best for Britain. Turning that commitment into reality depends on the participation of every civil servant. So, it is a particular pleasure to celebrate the achievements of individuals and teams of civil servants who are helping to embed inclusivity and equality across the service”.
