Effective Date: 28^th January 2025

Future Digital Systems Ltd (“we,” “our,” “us”) is committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of our business. We recognize the value of diversity in the workplace and are committed to providing an environment where everyone can reach their full potential, regardless of their background, characteristics, or beliefs.

This policy outlines our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and ensuring that all employees, customers, and other stakeholders are treated with dignity and respect.

1. Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

At Future Digital Systems Ltd, we believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce enhances our creativity, innovation, and overall performance. We are committed to:

• Fostering a workplace where people of all backgrounds feel valued, respected, and supported.
• Promoting equal opportunities for all employees, applicants, and clients.
• Ensuring that decisions related to recruitment, training, promotion, and pay are made based on merit, and not influenced by factors such as gender, race, disability, religion, age, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristics.
• Addressing any barriers or biases that might prevent individuals from thriving in our organisation.

2. Legal Framework

We are committed to ensuring compliance with relevant UK legislation, including but not limited to:

• Equality Act 2010: The Act protects individuals from discrimination, harassment, and victimisation in the workplace based on protected characteristics such as age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
• Human Rights Act 1998: We are committed to promoting the fundamental rights and freedoms of all our employees.
• Employment Rights Act 1996: Protects employees’ rights in relation to employment, including protection from unfair dismissal, redundancy, and discrimination.

3. Equal Opportunities

We are committed to offering equal opportunities to all individuals regardless of their age, race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, belief, or any other characteristic. We aim to create an environment where everyone has the opportunity to achieve their potential and succeed in their roles. This applies to:

• Recruitment and Hiring: All recruitment will be conducted based on skills, qualifications, and experience, ensuring that candidates are selected based on their ability to perform the job.
• Training and Development: We provide training, development, and progression opportunities to all employees equally, and we encourage all employees to access training resources that will help further their career.
• Promotion: We promote individuals based on their merits and performance, ensuring that promotion opportunities are accessible to all employees without discrimination.

4. Creating an Inclusive Workplace

We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive culture where all employees feel valued and respected. This includes:

• Respect for Differences: Encouraging a culture where different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences are appreciated, and all individuals feel safe to express themselves.
• Flexible Working: We support flexible working arrangements to accommodate the diverse needs of our workforce, including part-time work, job sharing, remote working, and flexible hours where possible.
• Reasonable Adjustments: We will make reasonable adjustments for employees with disabilities to enable them to perform their duties effectively and thrive in the workplace.

5. Addressing Harassment, Discrimination, and Bullying

We have a zero-tolerance policy for any form of harassment, discrimination, or bullying. This includes behaviour that is based on protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. Any such conduct will be dealt with swiftly and effectively, and appropriate action will be taken.

If an employee feels that they have been subject to discrimination, harassment, or bullying, they are encouraged to report it through our grievance procedure, and all concerns will be treated with the utmost seriousness and confidentiality.

6. Monitoring and Reporting

We will regularly monitor and review our diversity and inclusion practices to ensure their effectiveness. We collect and analyse data relating to recruitment, promotions, training, and pay to identify and address any disparities or potential barriers. We will ensure that any concerns raised are addressed promptly and that actions are taken to improve diversity and inclusion across the organisation.

7. Responsibilities of Employees

• Respect and Support: Every employee is expected to contribute to a positive and inclusive work environment by respecting the diversity of their colleagues and embracing an inclusive approach to teamwork.
• Reporting Concerns: Employees have a responsibility to report any incidents of discrimination, harassment, or bullying they encounter. This can be done through our internal reporting channels, which are accessible and confidential.
• Awareness and Training: Employees are expected to take part in diversity and inclusion training as provided by the company and demonstrate inclusive behaviour in their daily work.

8. Review and Continuous Improvement

We are committed to continuous improvement in the area of diversity and inclusion. This policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure it remains relevant and compliant with UK law. We will also work to improve the inclusivity of our practices through employee feedback and ongoing training.

9. Contact and Support

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this policy or if you require additional support related to diversity and inclusion in the workplace, please contact:

Human Resources Department
Email: info@fdsgroup.co.uk
Phone: 03330 388885

This policy is intended to reflect our commitment to creating a diverse, inclusive, and fair working environment for all employees. We encourage all employees to embrace these principles and contribute to making Future Digital Systems Ltd a supportive and equitable place to work.

This policy may be updated periodically, and any significant changes will be communicated to all employees.