Building belonging: why inclusion matters at UCLB

At UCLB, inclusion is more than a value, it’s part of how we work every day – fostering a truly inclusive environment is essential to our success as an organisation.

Inclusion means creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, heard, and supported. It’s about recognising and valuing our differences, whether that’s age, background, identity, or lived experience, and making sure those differences help shape how we grow as a team.

Our EDI group, made up of passionate staff from across UCLB, leads this work. They help spark conversations, share resources, and organise events that bring us together.

Recent initiatives have brought this commitment to life. From storytelling campaigns to culturally appreciative events, we’ve created spaces for staff to share, learn, and connect. A recent Lunch & Learn session, for example, offered a practical insight into Menopause in the Workplace. We’re also launching a new internal hub soon, with practical tools and guidance to help embed EDI into everyday decisions.

Inclusion isn’t just the right thing to do, it helps us do better work. Diverse teams bring fresh ideas, challenge assumptions, and drive innovation. By enabling inclusivity at the core of our projects and policies, we improve outcomes and build resilience. As highlighted in our recent EDI group meeting: inclusion is not just a moral imperative, it’s a strategic advantage.

We know this work takes ongoing effort. That’s why we’ve set up a dedicated EDI email where staff can share ideas, feedback, or concerns anonymously. We’re also reviewing our internal communications and website tone to ensure EDI is reflected in how we speak and present ourselves externally.

As we look ahead to UCL’s bicentenary, we’re exploring ways to honour our legacy of diversity. From featuring global majority founders in the “200 Faces of UCL” to spotlighting our inclusive history, we’re committed to making EDI central to our celebrations.

Inclusion is a journey. It takes openness, action, and collaboration. At UCLB, we’re proud to walk that path together and work towards building a culture where everyone belongs.