Applied Microbiology International is celebrating after being awarded Investors in Diversity’s Silver for Charities accreditation - the highest level of accreditation available for small charities under the small charities scheme.
The accreditation incorporated an internal staff survey that showed strong levels of endorsement for AMI’s culture of Fairness, Respect, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion, Engagement (FREDIE).
Investors in Diversity’s report said: “Overall, the assessment indicates that AMI has created a respectful and inclusive working environment, underpinned by strong staff confidence in colleagues, line managers and the organisation’s commitment to FREDIE. Staff responses show that fairness, respect, equal rights, inclusion, safety and belonging are experienced positively across the organisation.
“There is also strong evidence that FREDIE is visible in day-to-day behaviour, with staff recognising that colleagues and managers take FREDIE seriously and that the organisation has discussed the advantages of diversity. This is an important strength because inclusive cultures are sustained not only through policy and leadership statements, but through consistent everyday interactions.”
EDI framework
Investors in Diversity for Small Charities is an EDI framework designed to help small charities review their current approaches and plan further development. This accreditation enables them to conduct a culture/equality impact assessment, identify any gaps and provides prestigious recognition for good performance.
AMI’s accreditation is valid for two years and is based on an equality impact review of our policies, practices and procedures. The process is benchmarked against at least 100 organisations.
Investors in Diversity assessed AMI’s performance against four pillars: Diverse & Inclusive Leadership; Policy, Practice & Process; Recruitment, Retention & Progression; and Recording & Monitoring.
Lived experience
Investors in Diversity said the assessment – based on staff responses - places particular emphasis on the lived experience of employees and how FREDIE is understood, experienced and embedded in day-to-day working life.
“This report therefore gives greatest weight to the staff survey findings, while also analysing feedback from the Board of Trustees survey to provide an additional governance perspective on inclusive leadership, policy, fairness, accountability and organisational culture,” it said.
National Centre for Diversity’s Founder and Chief Executive Solat Chaudhry commented: “Congratulations from me. These results are excellent and you should be proud of the work that you all do.”
Welcoming the comments, AMI Policy and Diversity Manager Daisy Neale said: “AMI commits to continue keeping D&I at its core, and will be assessing implementation of the first year of its D&I strategy in December, to ensure it continues building on its successes going forward.”
Notes to editors
- Applied Microbiology International (AMI) is the oldest microbiology society in the UK and with more than half of its membership outside the UK, is truly global, serving microbiologists based in universities, private industry and research institutes around the world.
- AMI provides funding to encourage research and broad participation at its events and to ensure diverse voices are around the table working together to solve the sustainability development goals it has chosen to support.
- AMI publishes leading industry magazine, The Microbiologist, and in partnership with Oxford University Press, publishes three internationally acclaimed journals. It gives a voice to applied microbiologists around the world, amplifying their collective influence and informing international, evidence-based, decision making.