Context
Business Bridge represents a partnership between Liverpool John Moores University, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool Hope University and the University of Chester. As such, staff and students working with the Business Bridge team will be committed to compliance with law, implementing best equal opportunities practice and policy and widening participation policies of their own institution.

The following policy has been provided to cover the specific service provided by Business Bridge. It applies to the main client groups of Business Bridge:
· Representatives of the organisations involved in the Business Bridge scheme
· Students registered to the Business Bridge scheme
· Members of academic and support staff at the partner institutions who support the Business Bridge scheme

Policy
Business Bridge will not allow a client to receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of sex including: transgender, race, disability, religion, ethnic or national origins, sexuality, age, socio-economic background, marital status or potential degree classification.
The policy will be delivered in the following ways:

Policy Monitoring
Under the Objective One cross cutting theme 'Equal Opportunities and Social Inclusion', Business Bridge is obliged to record and monitor clients' commitment to Equal Opportunity and Social inclusion. Where organisations do not have such a policy, Business Bridge will advise them on the most appropriate support service available to enable them to develop a policy.

Student Monitoring
Information for equal opportunities monitoring purposes will be collected in accordance with the policies of the partner organisations. This data will be used to ensure that students are recruited to the scheme to reflect the diversity of the student population within the partner HEIs.

Student Selection Procedure
The selection criteria for students to be put forward as candidates for Business Bridge projects will be on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities.

Project Description
In order to encourage a diverse range of students to seek information on Business Bridge vacancies, all recruitment and publicity materials will actively reflect Business Bridge's commitment to equal opportunities, present projects without bias and describe projects in a way that does not deter suitable applicants.

Support and Procedures
All staff, students, employers and visitors can expect a reasonable form of support during their contact with Business Bridge. Any Business Bridge information, buildings or facilities will be accessible to all and where such access is currently limited, appropriate arrangements and reasonable adjustments will be made to provide the same standard of service.

This is a working document and will be reviewed regularly by the Business Bridge team.

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