The British Council values the diversity of the United Kingdom (UK) and the other countries it works in.

As the UK’s cultural relations organisation, the work of the British Council involves developing relationships with people from a wide range of backgrounds. Engaging positively with the richness of this diversity is central to the role of the British Council and in line with its core values.

The British Council is committed to equality of opportunity and positive action to promote equality of opportunity. We believe that an Equal Opportunities Policy helps to ensure that there is no unjustified discrimination in the recruitment, retention, training and development of staff on the basis of gender, marital status, sexual identity, religious belief, political opinion, race, work pattern, age, disability or HIV/AIDS status, socio-economic background, spent convictions, trade union activity or membership, or on the basis of having or not having dependants. We also believe that an Equal Opportunities Policy benefit employees and potential employees and helps achieve dignity at work and contributes to providing the best possible services to partners and clients.

The British Council will progress its Equal Opportunity Policy through its Diversity Strategy and its Integrated Equality Scheme.