Our Service
The example below illustrates how a company might use our services.
Situation
Following the Covid pandemic and its impact on traveller numbers, the Department for Transport (DfT) required train operating companies (TOCs) to carry out Equality Impact assessments (EqIAs) as part of a recovery programme. As private companies, TOCs had not been required to do these assessments before. In a short time frame, they needed to understand the purpose of EqIAs, how they are used, and how to set up processes for doing them.
Task
TOCs needed to make informed decisions about major changes to rail services affecting passengers and staff. To do this, EqIAs were required for every station on the network.
This required data about the customer base for each station, especially those customers who fall under protected characteristics as specified by the Equality Act. This is key, as writing an EqIA requires knowing which groups will be impacted.
Although this data is available from open sources, the collection and manipulation of it for such a specific purpose is time consuming and complicated. The TOC was under pressure to gather this information quickly and accurately, and therefore it was advantageous to get this data from EqLD.
Action
The TOC approached EqLD to collect and present the necessary data. We helped them understand what data was available and which datasets would be most helpful for their purposes. We sourced data from around each station, and provided comparisons with regional and national data. We created a PowerBI dashboard that the TOC could use for reference. Multiple people within their organisation could access the information, and it incorporated their existing sign-in process.
Result
The TOC was able to undertake EqIAs using accurate station by station information that encompassed not only the protected characteristics but also local data such as crime, first language preference and the location of establishments that would impact on the customer base such as hospitals, schools and religious sites. We provided information about local charities and voluntary organisations so that consultations could take place.
The TOC found the data so useful for future planning and other management purposes that it commissioned a data refresh the following year to ensure it continued to base its decisions on relevant and up-to-date information.
Our Service
The example below illustrates how a company might use our services.
Situation
An independent garden of national importance, with 152 acres and 42 staff, aims to provide access to green spaces for the community; give education to the community on subjects such as gardening and climate change; and carry out scientific research on flora and fauna.
Their income might include donations and legacies; government funding; research contracts; events such as weddings and corporate functions; entrance fees and season tickets; refreshment facilities; and community support contracts. 
Task
They were awarded money from the county council, with the intention that this would help children to access green spaces, as research by UNICEF and other institutions indicates that children’s wellbeing is positively affected by access to green spaces. 
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To fulfil this contract, the garden staff created a number of programmes for different age groups: under 5 years old, primary school aged children (KS1 and 2), and secondary school aged children (KS3 and 4, and GCSE biology). They worked with two local schools to find a convenient timetable and shared information about the programmes with schools across the county.
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However, it became apparent that the programme was not attracting the children the council was most concerned to reach. The two local schools and private schools that responded to the offer did not fall within the council’s “hard to reach” criteria.
Action
To meet the requirements of their contract with the council, the garden needed to encourage participation from schools within the "hard to reach" criteria. To achieve this, they needed a full diversity breakdown of the local area.
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In a situation such as this, the garden could use EqLD's help. It would be a significant task for a staff member at the garden to collect diversity data, especially if they did not know where to look. It would also be laborious for a staff member to collate said data into a format easily understood by their colleagues.
Result
EqLD could collect data that was location specific. The garden needed to find schools within the "hard to reach" criteria, so EqLD would source diversity data using schools in the county as points of interest. The data could then be presented by school. This way, the garden would know the diversity breakdown of the areas around all of the schools they intended to target. The garden would need this specificity to properly fulfill the terms of their contract with the council.