OriGym does not tolerate discrimination; we will always investigate allegations of discrimination and take appropriate action. We promote a working environment in which diversity is recognised, valued and encouraged. We acknowledge the multi-cultural and diverse nature of the UK workforce and society in general, and uphold the principles of fairness and mutual respect.

These principles are embedded into OriGym Centre of Excellence processes in selection, recruitment, programme delivery, assessment and quality management/assurance. We recognise that discrimination in the workplace or in the provision of training in any form is unacceptable and in most cases, unlawful.

Diversity

The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. It means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognising our individual differences.

Victimisation

Victimisation is a term used in discrimination law to describe an action by an employer against an employee, in retaliation for involvement in bringing, or supporting, a complaint of discrimination.

Direct Discrimination

Direct Discrimination occurs when someone is treated less favourably than another person because of a protected characteristic they have or are thought to have, or because they associate with someone who has a protected characteristic.

Indirect Discrimination

Indirect discrimination is when there’s a practice, policy or rule which applies to everyone in the same way, but it has a worse effect on some people than others. No learner, or anyone our organisation deals with, receives less favourable treatment because of their protected characteristics.

The protected characteristics are:

• Age
• Disability
• Gender Reassignment
• Marriage and Civil Partnership
• Pregnancy and Maternity
• Race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin)
• Religion or Belief
• Sex and Sexual Orientation.

Notice of Non-Discrimination

OriGym Centre of Excellence does not discriminate in its educational programmes, services or activities based on race, colour, creed, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or sexual orientation.

Our equality and diversity commitment will be demonstrated through:

• Raising awareness of equality and diversity.
• Ensuring that no staff member or student is discriminated against or receives less favourable treatment because of a protected characteristic.
• Acknowledging any issues that could be defined as discrimination, victimisation or harassment with an appropriately sensitive and prompt investigation.
• Complying with Focus Awards policy in making suitable, reasonable adjustments which can apply to all of the listed protected characteristics.
• Ensuring that all our procedures support the above principles.

Our equality and diversity objectives:

• To further underpin these principles we resolve:
• To structure our internal audit programme (specified by our Integrated Management System manual) so that questions of equality and diversity are monitored and fully dealt with.
• To make it widely and persistently known within the organisation that all reports of discrimination or victimisation will be thoroughly investigated and action taken against anyone found to be a guilty party.
• To make known and understood the clear responsibility of every member of staff to behave equitably with no exceptions and no excuses, such as the claim that no harm was intended or a remark was only in jest.
• To ensure that everyone involved in our organisation is aware of the procedure for complaints concerning discrimination or victimisation.

Equality And Diversity Performance

Our objectives will be delivered in the context of a programme of equality and diversity targets, which will be established and monitored by our senior managers.

Who is this policy statement for?

Copies of this policy statement will be made freely available to all those with an interest in the company. This statement will be promoted to employees, customers and representatives of the local communities in which we operate.

No learner, or anyone our organisation deals with, receives less favourable treatment because of their protected characteristics. In adhering to this stance OriGym Centre of Excellence ensures equality of treatment for all.

Students with Disabilities

If you have a disability that may affect your studies, please first of all note this on your enrolment form.

Secondly, contact the OriGym Student Services – support@origym.co.uk as soon as is possible.

The information supplied by you will be communicated to those key members of staff who require it to ensure the effective delivery and assessment of your course.

OriGym will make reasonable adjustments to accommodate your needs and to provide appropriate support for you to complete your study successfully.

Where necessary, you will be asked for evidence to help identify appropriate adjustments.

Assessment Arrangements

For Students with a disability, arrangements are made for students who have a disability/ learning difficulty for which valid supporting evidence can be made available.

Contact the OriGym Student Services for advice and information via support@origym.co.uk as soon as possible.

Your Responsibilities

Each and every one of us is a stakeholder in the success of this policy. We expect you to make a positive contribution towards maintaining an environment of equal opportunity throughout the organisation. Please make sure you observe this policy at all times.

In particular, you have an individual responsibility to adopt the following:

• Do not take unlawful discriminatory actions or decisions contrary to the spirit of this policy.
• Do not discriminate against, harass, abuse, or intimidate anyone on account of their protected characteristics.
• Do not place pressure on any other learners to act in a discriminatory manner.
• Resist pressure to discriminate placed on you by others and report such approaches to an appropriate member of staff.
• Co-operate when we investigate, including providing evidence of conduct which may amount to discrimination.
• Co-operate with any measures introduced to develop or monitor equal opportunity.

Student Contact Information

If any of your contact information, including email, phone, or address, changes whilst you are studying with us, please notify the Student Services so your official record can be updated.

Current information is essential to our ability to keep you up to date regarding class and programme updates and changes as well as for correct certification.

If You Encounter Discrimination

If you feel subject to discrimination of any kind as identified within this policy, make clear to the individual concerned that you find it unacceptable. Person-to-person discussion at an early stage may be enough to resolve your concern without involving anyone else.

Alternatively, please email us at etutor@origym.co.uk including details of the incident and a senior member of the team will review the same and be in contact with you within 3 working days.

If discrimination continues, or you consider an instance to be particularly serious, you should consider who to highlight the issue with. For the majority of cases this will likely be the tutor or assessor. However, we appreciate that this staff member may be implicated in your concern and therefore, when this happens they should approach the tutor/assessor’s line manager or the designated internal verifier.

The staff member approached will carry out a suitable documented investigation or, where more appropriate, will refer the issue to an appropriate individual responsible for this area within the company, our Lead Quality Assurer.

The result of the investigation into alleged discrimination will be communicated to you with information, including the action taken and outcome highlighted if applicable or appropriate.

If you feel dissatisfied about the outcome of the investigation and you want to appeal then request your case to be escalated to the Managing Director, within five working days of receiving the outcome, who will carry out and appoint a senior staff member to review these concerns.

Discrimination is not just treating one person less favourably than another. It can take place because:

• Someone associates a person with a protected characteristic.
• That someone is believed to possess a protected characteristic – even though they do not.

We expect you to treat, and be treated by, other learners and the people our organisation deals with considerately and with respect.