The Careers and Employability Service is committed to ensuring that all students make a successful transition into the world of work or further study. However, we are aware that students from African, Asian and other Minoritised Groups (AAMG) face discrimination and are under-represented in the workplace.

Equality, Inclusion and Diversity are important themes in graduate recruitment. Responsible employers monitor their recruitment practices ensuring they are fair, equal, and do not discriminate against people based upon an ethnic or cultural bias.  

There are a number of organisations offering 'positive action' internships, events and programmes. These are designed to attract and recruit graduates from diverse social, ethnic and cultural backgrounds so that the workforce across a range of sectors is more reflective of the diversity of the population at large.  

We have developed a list of some of these programmes. This includes what sectors they cover and a calendar to say what schemes are open for applications in any given month. 

The following are examples of these programmes: 

• Creative Access - Creative Access fills a gap in the current creative landscape by helping young people from black, Asian and other non-white minority ethnic backgrounds, as well as those with a lower socioeconomic status (SES), to secure jobs or paid training opportunities in creative companies. Aimed at final-year students and graduates, who must be available to undertake the internship opportunity.
• Summer Diversity Internship Programme - The Summer Diversity Internship Programme gives people from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to see what a career in the Civil Service is like. It puts talented undergraduates and graduates on a work placement in a government department. As a successful applicant, you’ll get an insight into the broad range of opportunities available across the Civil Service. 
• Taylor Bennett Foundation - The Taylor Bennett Foundation’s training and mentoring programmes exist to encourage black, Asian and ethnic minority graduates to pursue a career in communications. 
• Windsor Fellowship - The Windsor Fellowship is a charitable organisation, that helps young people from diverse communities to achieve educational and career success and become confident, active role model citizens. The charity works with private and public sector organisations throughout the UK to design and deliver innovative personal development and leadership programmes.

The Equality Act - Your Rights 

The Equality Act 2010 says you must not be discriminated against because of your race. 

In the Equality Act, race can mean your colour, or your nationality (including your citizenship). It can also mean your ethnic or national origins, which may not be the same as your current nationality.  

Race also covers ethnic and racial groups. This means a group of people who all share the same protected characteristic of ethnicity or race.

The Equality Act 2010 also says you must not be discriminated against because: 

• You are (or are not) of a particular religion 
• You hold (or do not hold) a particular philosophical belief 
• Someone thinks you are of a particular religion or hold a particular belief (this is known as discrimination by perception) 
• You are connected to someone who has a religion or belief (this is known as discrimination by association)  

In the Equality Act, religion or belief can mean any religion, as long as it has a clear structure and belief system. For example, organised religions such as Christianity, Judaism, Islam or Buddhism, or smaller religions such as Rastafarianism or Paganism. The Equality Act also covers non-belief or a lack of religion or belief. 

If you feel there are cultural, religious or other reasons relating to your ethnicity that affect your choice of career, career planning or job search strategy, please come and talk about these with our advisers. It is important to remember that employers are not allowed to treat a person less favourably than others due to their race, ethnicity, religion or belief. This is discrimination and is illegal. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in your search for work or feel that an employer has treated you unfairly on the basis of your ethnic origin you can do the following: 

• Book an appointment with an Employability Adviser to discuss the situation in confidence. 
• Contact an adviser at the Hallam Union Advice Centre or visit your local Citizens Advice Bureau. 
• Contact the Equality Advisory Support Service (EASS) helpline - The Helpline advises and assists individuals on issues relating to equality and human rights, across England, Scotland and Wales. 
• Contact ACAS - ACAS provides information, advice, training, conciliation and other services for employees and employers to help prevent or resolve workplace problems. Speak to a trained Acas adviser for clear guidance on an issue or dispute in the workplace. Guidance is free and confidential.