Equality Impact Assessments are a straightforward way of ensuring that nobody is missed when we design a new policy, procedure or practice. It is a way that organisations can show the ' due regard' required by the Public Sector Equality Duty, but also a way for organisations to ensure that they get policies, procedures, practices, projects, new works right first time - by considering the needs of different groups.

At the very outset, we take the needs of different groups overtly into account, by undertaking consultation, drawing on research and using data.

The process enables us to look at our proposed actions through different lenses.

We can identify if we are inadvertently going to disadvantage anyone and take action to remove the disadvantage, or at the very least mitigate it.

This process helps us avoid costly mistakes. Our aim is ' right first time'.

If you need to think about the impact of what you do on different groups, contact us and ask us about facilitating a session on Equality Impact Assessment for your business.