On Friday 31 October 2025, we launched our new Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy 2025–2030, reaffirming our commitment to creating an inclusive culture where every colleague feels valued, heard and supported.
The strategy sits at the heart of our People Strategy, A Great Place to Work, which focuses on three key goals: culture, capability and capacity. Together, these drive our mission to make UHL a workplace where everyone can thrive, and where our patients, colleagues, and communities across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland experience fairness, compassion and respect.
At the core of the new EDI Strategy are our five pillars of belonging:
- Locally led action
- Data-driven insight
- Accessible by design
- Inclusive culture
- Leadership and representative workforce
These pillars outline our roadmap for embedding inclusion into every aspect of our work — from recruitment and leadership to service design and patient care.
Commitment to Anti-Racism and Anti-Discrimination
As part of our strategy, we have renewed our commitment to being an anti-racist and anti-discriminatory organisation. We will not tolerate any form of racism or discrimination, whether directed at colleagues or patients.
We align our work with the Race Health Observatory’s Seven Principles for Anti-Racism in the NHS, ensuring accountability and transparency in how we lead and acts.
Recognising that people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, as well as women, disabled people, LGBTQ+ and religious communities, often face inequities in health and employment, we are committed to creating lasting change.
Claire Teeney, Chief People Officer at UHL, said: “At UHL, equality, diversity and inclusion are not optional — they are essential to who we are and what we stand for.
“Serving one of the most diverse populations in the country means our workforce must reflect and respect that diversity. Through this strategy, we are embedding inclusion into everything we do through supporting our colleagues, improving patient care, and living the NHS values that unite us all.”
UHL’s EDI Strategy 2025–2030 represents a sustained, strategic, and structural commitment to building a workplace where everyone belongs, and where diversity is celebrated as a source of strength.