Co-directors

The Centre for Equality and Diversity at Work was formed as a result of expanding UK and international interest in the phenomenon of managing diversity in the workplace as well as the Co-Directors' increasing involvement in this area. Its aim is to enhance the profile of applied psychology and diversity in organisations through extensive collaboration with public and private sector organisations in the successful development and implementation of cutting-edge research.

The overriding aim of the Centre is to pursue new knowledge relating to successfully managing diversity initiatives in organisations. The Centre specialises in carrying out innovative research and practical applications with a special emphasis on the psychological issues related to attitudes and perceptions at the individual and organisational level .

Managing Diversity initiatives seek to fully develop the potential of each employee and turn the different sets of skills that each employee brings into a business advantage. Through the fostering of difference, team creativity, innovation and problem-solving can be enhanced. The focus is therefore, much more on the individual rather than the group. Having a diverse workforce not only enables organisations to understand and meet customer demand better, but also helps attract investors and clients, as well as reduce the costs associated with discrimination.

The Centre undertakes a wide variety of research and leadership development and although the focus is on diversity and work psychology, many projects are international and cross disciplinary. Recently, this has included the following projects:

  • Occupational stress, gender and age
  • Female entrepreneurship and social exclusion
  • Gender and racial equality in the construction industry
  • Gender and ethnicity in small business start-up
  • Mentoring and career development opportunities for female mental health nurses in the NHS
  • Mentoring and coaching in relation to leadership development for males and females in the NHS
  • Women in management
  • Gender and communication in organisations
  • Black minority ethnic female entrepreneurs
  • E-coaching for women entrepreneurs
  • Glass ceiling issues in the retail sector
  • Sexual harassment

The Co-Directors are recognised for their work in the field of diversity and have strong links with special interest groups in the UK and other institutions and research centres around the world.

Annual report

Download the Centre for Diversity & Work Psychology 2006-7 annual report