At MK College Group, we’ve pledged our commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion through the launch of our new ED&I pledge. As one of the first colleges to sign the Association of Colleges’ ED&I Charter in April 2024, this closely aligns with our principle of Fairer Futures, promoting fairness, equality, diversity and inclusion.

As signatories of the Charter, we recognise that it is socially, morally and economically right to prepare our learners for life and work in a world that is diverse. We also recognise equity and inclusion as fundamental to making the most of our diversity and acknowledge that it will be judged by our actions and their impact.

Arvind Kaushal, Head of People Development and ED&I, said: “We know that our current and future employees want to work for an organisation that recognises that everyone is different and deserving of support, regardless of their age, gender, ethnicity and other protected characteristics. Our pledge has been put together to align with our Group Strategy, our People Strategy, our Curriculum Strategy and our ED&I Strategy, which is currently in development. The pledge has been reviewed and approved by our Board of Governors, including our Chair of Governors Ruby Parmar.”

A key part of the pledge is our commitment to creating an inclusive curriculum that focuses on ensuring that all learners have equal access to learning opportunities and support. While prioritising the creation of inclusive curricula is increasingly common in schools, it is less so in Further Education. This review will be in-depth to ensure that it is built around inclusive principles, such as providing learners from diverse backgrounds to engage meaningfully with the curriculum.

Arv commented further, saying that “Signing the pledge shows our direction of travel with ED&I, as we recognise its importance and are taking steps to make improvements.”

Another key part of our work on ED&I is our annual Gender and Ethnicity Pay Gap Report, which helps us to understand the experiences of our learners and staff. We complete the report within a month of the survey, 11 months ahead of deadline, to maximise our ability to address any problems as quickly as possible.

Jeff Greenidge, Director for Diversity and Governance at the Association of Colleges, said: “It is great to see that Milton Keynes College Group, a recognised leader in advancing equity and inclusion in further education, has reaffirmed its commitment to the AoC Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Charter with a robust, evidence-based pledge.

“This pledge outlines clear, measurable actions to foster an inclusive culture, address systemic inequalities, and improve outcomes for all students and staff. It reflects the College Group’s strategic approach to embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion across all aspects of its work.”

To read the full pledge, visit AoC Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Pledge 2025