An equality and diversity policy on your website

Key takeaways

Small private businesses are not legally required to publish an equality and diversity policy, but public sector and large corporate buyers often ask for one in supplier questionnaires. A short public statement of your commitment under the Equality Act 2010, with the full policy on request, saves time. Only publish what you practise.

• No general legal duty to publish, but tenders often ask.
• Base it on your duties under the Equality Act 2010.
• Publish a short statement; send the full policy on request.
• Avoid claims you cannot evidence.

Do you need an equality policy on your website?

Not by law, for most private businesses. But public sector and many corporate buyers ask for one in supplier questionnaires, and candidates increasingly look for it. Global Bridge Labs (GBL) recommends a short public statement with the full policy available on request, if you sell to those buyers.

• What information should every business website have?
• Which company policies to publish on your website

What does the law require?

The Equality Act 2010 protects people from discrimination on nine protected characteristics, in employment and in the provision of services. That applies whether or not you have a written policy. A policy explains how you meet those duties, in hiring, training and serving customers.

• Accessibility information about your premises, online

Why do tenders ask for it?

Public bodies have their own equality duties and look for suppliers who support them. Under the Procurement Act 2023 regime, buyers still assess suppliers' social value and standards. A published policy shows you have thought about it and lets you answer the question by linking rather than drafting.

• Your website and public sector tenders: what buyers check

What should the public statement say?

The statement should say who it applies to, your commitment in employment and service delivery, how concerns can be raised, who is responsible and when it was last reviewed. Keep it to a few short paragraphs. Specific actions, such as reasonable adjustments, are more credible than broad values.

• An accessibility statement for a business website

How do you keep it honest?

Only describe what you do. If you say you offer flexible working or adjustments, make sure staff and managers know about it. A buyer or candidate may test the claim. Review the statement annually and update it when practices change.

• Inaccurate information on your website: the legal risk

When should you not publish one?

Do not publish a generic template you have not adopted. If your buyers and candidates never ask, a policy kept internally is fine. Publish when it answers a real question from people you want to work with or hire.

What does this look like in practice?

A pattern we see with firms starting to bid for public work: the first questionnaire asks for an equality policy, and one is written in a rush. Publishing a short, accurate statement afterwards means the next tender can simply link to it.

• See client work
• Website Design & Development for UK businesses

Equality statement checklist

• Check whether buyers or tenders ask for it.
• Base it on Equality Act duties.
• Describe specific practices.
• Name who is responsible.
• Date and review it yearly.
• Offer the full policy on request.

• Tell clients how you protect their data
• A safeguarding policy on your website: who needs one

Next step

If you bid for public or corporate work, write a five-paragraph equality statement this month and add it to your policies page.