Equality on the frontline: How far have we come and where are we going?

In 2010, The Equality Act brought together over 116 pieces of legislation into one single Act. The goal? To make it easier to understand and to use. Over fourteen years later we continue to rely on this guidance to help us navigate an evolving landscape and ensure everyone is treated fairly.

Whilst the world has moved on since the early 2000s, the need to position equalities at the forefront of local government has not. Indeed, the Public Sector Equality Duty that came into force across Great Britain in April 2011 should be at the heart of local government decision-making. 

APSE led the way in local government in supporting our local council members through the spate of Equal Pay challenges and in understanding job evaluation in local government. We have proudly threaded the Public Sector Equality Duty through our courses and research. Most recently, we have developed, through APSE’s Southern Region Principal Advisor Abi Ademiluyi, and Research Officer, Shami Scholes, a new seminar under the theme of ‘Equality, Diversity and Inclusion’. The latest seminar in May 2024 brought together a range of expert speakers that explored steps local authorities and partners have taken, and are continuing to take, in carrying out, developing and supporting a diverse workforce and community at all levels. This session also covered steps being taken to coordinate better dialogue, promote equality, engaging and responding to the needs of everyone in the community. 

Through the success of this seminar and our ongoing work on the Public Sector Equalities Duty it has become increasingly clear that this is something our APSE members and approved partners want to understand and explore how, at any level, you can cultivate inclusivity across the local government landscape. As a result, APSE Training is pleased to share the launch of our newest course: Equality on the Frontline. 
Targeting frontline service workers, this training provides a brief overview of the legislative requirement, whilst also taking time to explore concepts such as unconscious bias and ‘the bystander effect.’ Through a series of thought-provoking and interactive exercises, learners are encouraged to consider what might constitute discriminatory behaviour and how to address this in conversation. 

The frontline service workforce is the foundation of a local authority, connecting to the communities they serve, and their roles are critical in shaping the customer experience. To shape this effectively we must understand the differences in human experience specifically across the nine protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. 

We hope this course provides an opportunity for colleagues to engage in productive conversations reflecting on how they currently and can continue to promote inclusivity across a range of service-based roles. 
In the interest of developing these materials to the highest possible standard, APSE Training held a reference panel on Thursday 30 May where our materials and course content were jointly tested and developed collaboratively with our member councils alongside APSE colleagues.  

Participants were invited to comment on the existing content and provide suggestions to enhance their relevance for frontline service workers. This highly collaborative session sought to identify the opportunities and challenges that face the frontline workforce across a range of services, as well as providing a toolkit for learners to utilise beyond the virtual classroom. 

As an IIP Gold standard organisation, APSE Training recognises the incredible importance of a course like this in supporting local authorities to continue to exemplify and build on inclusive best practice. 

Future courses will be available online, via Microsoft Teams, and in person. 

Our thanks for the development of this course must go to Armagh, Banridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and West Northamptonshire Council. 

Thanks also to APSE colleagues, Lindsay Airey, Head of Business Resources, Shami Scholes, Business Support and Research Officer, Abi Ademiluyi, Principal Advisor for APSE Southern Region and Fiona Sutton-Wilson, Head of APSE training.