Race, Equity & Diversity in Careers
Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) FAQ is designed to provide clarity, transparency, and guidance. We know DEI can raise important questions—what it means in practice, how equity differs from equality, and why inclusion matters in everyday interactions. By addressing these questions directly, we create a space where everyone feels informed and supported. This resource also sets clear expectations for behaviour and accountability, showing our commitment to making DEI principles not only aspirational, but practical, actionable, and accessible to all.
Mark Masonry ⟶
People often have many questions about DEI. Here we do our best to answer them.
- Black Futures Scholarships – some universities offer these scholarships in partnership with other sponsoring organisations. They provide financial awards to support undergraduate and postgraduate study and employability opportunities. Students are supported by the scholarship team. Application and interview processes apply.
- NIHR Mentorship – these programmes support all health and care professions and are open to final-year PhD and postdoctoral Academy members. Mentees are supported with academic and career development during the course of a year.
- NIHR – Your Path in Research – to support consideration of research careers and potential pathways
- NIHR INSIGHT Programme – funding for Masters programmes in participating institutions
- Research Delivery Network – you can contact regional teams to find out about mentorship to support academic and career development with networking opportunities.
- Reverse Mentorship Programmes – where researchers are paired with mentors from ethnic minorities with lived experiences. This provides both mentors and mentees with the opportunity to share interests and aspiration and develop their networks
- Universities tackling progression and award gaps – with scholarships, tailored support
- Networking opportunities and events – virtual and in-person
- Peer groups and communities of practice – to support wider engagement, support and development of researchers, participants and stakeholders
- Structured organisational support with appropriately experienced staff resource e.g. PPI, finance, with protected time to develop all aspects of grant applications
- Transparency around grant writing processes with proportionate credit given to contributors, challenging when this is not the case
- Targeted funding to support researchers from racial minority groups to include leadership training
- Ensure all support and resource options are readily available and accessible to all regardless of stage of career
- Appreciating different experiences and backgrounds and providing support to gain a better understanding of research culture to navigate a career in research
- Support all those who want to get involved in research, especially if it is combined with other aspects of their job e.g. clinical, science
- Set up peer/working groups for researchers from racial minority groups
- Appreciate the needs and nuances of racial minority groups
- Work with funders around essential criteria, gatekeeping and accountability
- Ensure exclusion criteria are not limiting inclusion e.g. language-based criteria and support researcher inclusion from ethnic minority groups
- Targeted funding to support researchers from racial minority groups to include leadership training
- Appreciate the needs and nuances of racial minority groups
- Set up peer/working groups for researchers from ethnic minority groups and those from other nations or developing countries to support inclusion
- Apply a consistent approach regarding EDI principles across all awarding organisations as this varies
- Actively incorporate ethnic minority voices at early stages and encourage accountability for doing so
- Increase diversity in funding panels to ensure representation and wider consideration of all aspects of research, support governance and transparency in decision-making processes
- Consider intersectionality and contextual factors with transparency on how this information is used in the decision-making process
- Take steps to minimise conscious and unconscious bias when reviewing grant applications e.g. removing names of applicants as more experienced or well-known researchers may be awarded over less experienced or less well-known researchers
- More detailed feedback on rejected grants to support further grant applications
- Provide more opportunities for seed funding to support further grant applications
- Work with employers around essential criteria, gatekeeping and accountability
- Share success stories, including those from racial minority groups
- Advertise REDiC more widely
- Develop website and navigation further to support engagement
- Signpost and direct to further resources and support to enhance capacity building in research
- Signpost to information on career pathways and opportunities
- Outreach work in schools, colleges, universities, NHS and employer organisations to encourage and inspire careers in research
- Provide general support
- Provide mentorship
- Networking and events with representation by REDiC including pre-university and student level to support career considerations
- Case studies around career trajectories and experiences of others
- Sharing good practice
- Provide support with writing grant applications
- Postgraduate mentorship/allyship/internship programmes with protected time for mentees and mentors with recognition for those involved
- Early careers research peer groups with shared experiences
- Line managers trained well in appraisals to actively encourage and support individuals to develop, progress, increase their visibility
- Line managers trained appropriately to support varying needs e.g. neurodiversity
We're growing this website and there's much more coming soon.
Advice
DEI advice fosters inclusive workplaces, enhancing innovation, employee satisfaction, and organisational success.
Resources
Online DEI resources provide accessible, scalable guidance to foster inclusion, challenge bias, and empower diverse communities.
Latest News
Staying informed on DEI news ensures awareness of evolving policies, societal shifts, and organisational practices. This knowledge enables proactive adaptation to change.
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