Inverclyde Council has signed up for a national initiative aimed at promoting greater diversity within the workforce and tackling violence against women.

The local authority is taking part in the Equally Safe at Work accreditation programme run by the charity Close the Gap.

Over the next 18 months, the council will take part in a range of activities and develop policies and practices toward becoming an Equally Safe at Work accredited employer.

Chief executive Louise Long and council leader, Councillor Stephen McCabe, have signed up for the scheme on behalf of the council.

In a joint statement, they said: “We are pleased to announce that Inverclyde Council is participating in the Equally Safe at Work accreditation programme.

“Inverclyde Council is committed to progressing gender equality in the workplace, and this programme provides the tools to take this forward to make meaningful change for all employees.

“Between now and the end of July 2023 we will be undertaking a number of activities to progress gender equality and better support victim-survivors of violence against women.

“This includes developing a policy on violence against women, looking at recruitment and progression practice, and holding awareness-raising sessions.

“We recognise that there is an integral link between addressing gender inequality and preventing violence against women and that starts with addressing women’s workplace inequality.

“Gender equality is a priority for the council. It benefits everyone and it’s important that all employees in the workplace feel safe and supported.

“Equally Safe at Work will enable Inverclyde Council to develop policies and practice that better reflect the needs of all employees in the council and aligns with Inverclyde Council’s Corporate Equality Outcomes 2021/25. 

“Two of these outcomes seek to address aspects of gender and employment:

• Outcome 4 – Increase the diversity of the Council workforce; and
• Outcome 5 – Improve the economic prospects of people who are furthest from the Labour Market including young people, older people and disabled people.

“We will ensure that the changes we make are sustainable. We will be working to embed this work throughout the organisation. We will consistently review the changes to ensure they still reflect the needs of the council and its employees.”

To find out more about Equally Safe at Work, visit www.equallysafeatwork.scot.