Southern Uplands Partnership - Equal Opportunites Policy

Statement:

The Southern Uplands Partnership is an equal opportunities employer. The Company's aim is to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, race, colour, nationality or ethnic or national origins, or is subjected to sexual harassment, or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable. Selection criteria and procedures are reviewed to ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and treated on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities.

Policy:

The Southern Uplands Partnership will treat employees, partners and customers with dignity and respect, free from discrimination, victimisation or harassment.

The Southern Uplands Partnership will recruit, train, promote and transfer employees on the basis of the skills, relevant qualifications, experience, aptitude and ability they can bring to the job.

The Southern Uplands Partnership will encourage all employees to support and carry out the requirements of this equal opportunities policy and will also encourage the contribution of ideas towards ongoing initiatives.

Whenever the Southern Uplands Partnership invests capital in new or refurbished premises, the access and facility requirements of those employees, partners and customers with disabilities will be taken into account.

In order to ensure that the Southern Uplands Partnership is achieving its equal opportunity aims, the Southern Uplands Partnership will regularly monitor, review and communicate the equal opportunities policy.

Employment agencies and agencies responsible for the supply of contract and temporary staff will be advised of the Company's equal opportunities policy and audited against it.

Any employee who feels that he or she has been discriminated against, contrary to the aims of this policy, should raise the matter with a Director or the Chair of the Board of Directors.