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Diversity training rolled out to 10,000 DTI staff

7 October 2002

e-Learning programme to help DTI staff understand and put into practice new legislation and obligations

KnowledgePool, as part of the PTSC¹ (Personnel Training Services Consortium) has provided the technical and creative expertise required for the development of an e- Learning programme to help DTI staff to recognise, understand and deliver the benefits that diversity² can bring to the workplace. Due to be launched at the DTI headquarters 1 Victoria Street, London on 10 October by Permanent Secretary, Sir Robin Young, the programme covers new obligations and legislation placed on all public authorities within the UK.

"The concept of diversity recognises that although individuals may come from differing races, cultures and backgrounds, and have different languages, religions, ages, abilities and ambitions the harnessing of these differences brings innovation and versatility to the workplace that will ultimately increase performance. This e-Learning programme which operates within the Modernising Government Agenda will show DTI staff how to actively recognise and capitalise on diversity. The need to take a proactive approach to diversity across all policy- making activity is consistent with changes in legislation. DTI must now comply with new, wider reaching equality legislation; The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 and section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. The Government wants its policies to be relevant to the lives that people live today. Everyone at DTI who is responsible for developing or managing policy; carrying out a function or providing a service must be aware of diversity issues and be proactive in bringing them into their daily work." Mark Dean, Director of PTSC

The e-Learning programme will be available at the desktop of over 10,000 DTI staff across the DTI intranet and will encourage and foster acceptance and understanding of how diversity should be taken into account and applied when developing new policies and services. The course looks at diversity issues from the point of view of DTI's policies, functions and services and aims to clarify what the obligations are for DTI as a whole.

"Delivering communications through the DTI intranet is growing rapidly making the diversity e-Learning programme available in this way will allow DTI staff to access the programme at a time that fits into their daily schedules as well as providing a useful source of just-in-time information." Mark Dean, Director of PTSC

"Diversity is about capturing the imaginative, sensitive and intelligent use of employees talent and differences can bring real business benefit when organisations truly recognise and act positively on the differences of people with a wide range of expectations, skills and capability." Paul Butler, Chief Executive Officer at KnowledgePool

About PTSC

PTSC works in partnership with a number of clients, largely in the public sector, and is a preferred supplier appointed to provide organisational development services to DTI. Members include the Personnel Training Services of the DTI, (PTS) KnowledgePool and ITM Group

PTS has been the leading supplier of training to the DTI for over 30 years and has been instrumental in supporting cultural change, communicating central management messages throughout the Department and also makes a significant contribution to the development of HRD [policy within the Department.

The PTSC mission is "Helping individuals and organisations change and develop to achieve their objectives. To do the same ourselves."

¹The PTSC is the preferred training supplier appointed to provide training to DTI staff and members include the DTI’s Personnel Training Service, KnowledgePool and ITM Group.

²Practicing a pro-active process whereby individuals differences are taken into account when developing new procedures and processes to deliver a process that will work for everyone.