THE BIG ASK:

Formal Collaboration Agreement

We, along with SmartSTEMs, both exist to increase diversity and inclusion, to increase opportunities in the workplace for all, and to act always to address the long-term societal imbalances in the workforce.

Both organisations understand that together we can achieve more by working more closely to address these systemic societal issues, by making more people aware of the breadth of roles available and the diverse range of people delivering in those roles today.

Organisationally we both recognise the benefits of a fairer, flexible and meritocratic workplace with flexible arrangements for parents and carers, work returners, those requiring a sabbatical, and those wishing to retrain. We know and share regularly that diverse teams produce the optimal outcomes and that we collectively must act to ensure all groups are fairly represented: gender, sexuality, ethnicity, disability, neurodiversity, socio-economic history, familial structure and so on.

We recognise the benefits of investing in all people to maximise the realisation of their potentiality and understand that without broad vision, ample connection and personal agency, one’s own potential, as well as that of one’s society is significantly reduced.

We have both been working on the root causes of unbalanced workforce for some time. The purpose of this agreement is to recognise and formalise a way of working together and create schedule of engagement to increase our collective efficacy against shared goals. This is an open and ongoing collaboration agreement from October 1st 2021, which can be terminated at any time either party, for any reason.

Our organisations, together, commit to the following collaboration:


Regular, appropriate and current collaboration

  • Open sharing of strategic and tactical objectives
  • Annual review, and restatement of shared goals for active engagement for the year ahead

Defined Active Engagement

  • Active volunteer engagement at virtual and physical events
  • Board Collaboration: Sharing best practice amongst boards
  • Joint funding proposals
  • Volunteering Commitments
  • Social Media Commitments
  • Research participation and commissioning, where appropriate

Supporters