The University has committed to the Working Forward pledge, a national campaign run by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Sponsored by Professor Sarah Sharples, PVC for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, the pledge focuses on improving practice to support expectant staff and new parents, from expecting a baby through to settling back in at work.

Committing to the principles of the Working Forward Pledge was an action identified as part of our 2017 Athena SWAN action plan, including providing better support for expectant and breastfeeding colleagues.

Professor Sharples said: “Having children is a key time in someone’s life, and how we support that can make a huge difference. Building on our successful Athena SWAN Silver award, I’m pleased to be able to further our commitment through the Working Forward Pledge. I hope that colleagues will take a moment to access some of our new provision to help support expectant and working parents”.

As part of our commitment to the pledge, new guidance for staff and managers to help support breastmilk expressing at work is now available, and dedicated facilities — Athena SWAN Parenting Rooms — have been identified to provide a private, hygienic and secure area for breastfeeding staff and students to express and store breastmilk, or to feed their baby if they prefer to use a private location for breastfeeding.

Useful links to more information:

• Details of all parenting rooms and how to access them
• New guidance to support breastmilk expressing at work
• Updated HR Information Booklet for Parents
• Conference and Training Care Fund, which helps cover reasonable additional childcare costs incurred due to attending training
• Mentoring for staff who are expectant or new parents, or for their line managers. Contact christine.wilkinson@nottingham.ac.uk or complete the Request a Mentor form. To offer mentoring to someone who is an expectant or new parent, please complete the Apply to be a Mentor form.
• Flexible Working Guidelines for Managers
• Further information on Working Forward