EDI Action plan
The aim of our action plan is to create an inclusive and welcoming environment that benefits everyone in UK engineering and physical sciences (EPS) research and innovation. An environment where people can contribute fully due to a sense of belonging. Where people are well networked, well supported and have opportunities for growth and development, producing the best results for the UK.
Our 2026 to 2029 equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) action plan is an evolution of our EDI action plan for 2022 to 2025, which was published alongside the first edition of the UKRI EDI Strategy.
The action plan brings together:
- five new sets of action for EPSRC
- outline of what good looks like for EPS EDI practice
- our EDI expectations for universities, research leaders, partners and individuals
Read more about how we draw from our EPSRC advisory groups to provide us with strategic advice on equality, diversity and inclusion.
We aspire to ensure EDI for all who work in EPSRC. Our actions on internally facing EDI work are included within the UKRI workforce plan and the EPSRC people plan. We will actively listen and value everyone who works for and with EPSRC, and demonstrate respectful and inclusive behaviours to each other and everyone we work with.
Contact EPSRC about EDI
Evidence and analysis of EDI in EPSRC activities
We collect and analyse diversity-related data from EPSRC's portfolio of activities, to gain a strong understanding of the diversity of our portfolio. We publish diversity data on applications, awards, award rates and our peer review process.
Evolving and upholding fairness in peer review
Peer review is an integral part of EPSRC’s work as a funder of research. We are continually evolving the peer review process to ensure fairness, and have made a number of changes to improve access to funding opportunities.
Expectations for equality, diversity and inclusion
Our EDI expectations guide aims to help the engineering and physical sciences community to identify and address the specific EDI barriers in their own environment by taking into account differences such as location, discipline, role, and career stage.
Disability and accessibility: EPSRC support
Our actions to improve accessibility and investigating the barriers to greater access and participation for researchers with disabilities.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Hub
The EDI Hub+ will act as a focal point of activity and knowledge of good EDI practice across the UK, bringing together the engineering, physical and mathematical sciences research communities.