At times we may ask you questions about your background and how you identify - your diversity data. We encourage you to help us to better understand the diversity of our community. This may include disability, gender, nationality, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation.
Appropriate collection and analysis of data helps us to better understand diversity and to ensure an evidence-driven approach to our work.
What is diversity data?
Diversity data covers people’s characteristics, traits, and identities. These may be protected characteristics set out in the UK Equality Act 2010, which includes age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or in employment only, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. But they may go beyond this to consider diversity more holistically and include for example socio-economic status, caring responsibilities. Collecting this data gives us a clearer understanding of our community.
Why are we interested in this information?
It is not only morally right to ensure that everyone has equal opportunity to be involved and succeed but to improve our world and shape our future, to advance excellence and solve complex global challenges we need to include a diversity of talent and knowledge. Furthermore, to ensure the sustainability of the engineering and technology workforce we must support equal opportunity for all and be a truly inclusive community.
High quality accurate data is essential to improving ED&I within Engineering and Technology. Collecting and monitoring diversity data gives us a clearer understanding of our community. It also allows us to uncover any biases or barriers in decision-making in our own processes and ensure that our services and activities are as inclusive as they should be.
What will we do with this data?
To ensure an evidence-driven approach to our work we need to understand the diversity of our community. Collated, aggregated data will help us to contribute to understanding the wider engineering and technology sector. It also allows us to uncover any biases or barriers in decision-making in our own processes and ensure that our services and activities are as inclusive for everyone as they should be.
Will data be identifiable?
Data is collected anonymously, we do not store data against an individual. Any data that we report on will be aggregated – we will not report on data individually. Where analysis of small groups is carried out we will not report on categories with less than five individuals to reduce the chance that an individual could be identified.
We will ensure that appropriate data protection and privacy measures are in place.
At each point that you are asked for this data you will have access to appropriate privacy guidance.
How is my data stored?
Diversity data can include personal and sensitive data. Data must be stored appropriately with protection in place. Our Privacy Statement contains information on how we collect, process and store data. Each time you are asked for diversity data you will have access to appropriate privacy and storage guidance.
Why have I been asked more than once?
In order to protect your anonymity, we do not store data against an individual. This means that if you are involved in more than one activity with us, it is likely you may be asked for your diversity data more than once.
We also may ask these questions over time to understand how diversity changes over time and with any interventions we implement.
We will make all possible efforts to minimise the time it takes you to answer these questions. We encourage you to help us to better understand the diversity of our community.
What if I do not want to answer these questions?
Although we encourage you to participate and share your data you do not have to answer any diversity data questions.
If there are any particular questions that you prefer not to answer you can select ‘prefer not to say’ or skip that question. This does not affect your answer to any other question.
What are the benefits to me?
As we understand more about the diversity of our processes and activities we will uncover any biases or barriers in decision-making and ensure that our services and activities are as inclusive for everyone as they should be. We want everyone to fulfil their potential and feel they belong in engineering and technology.