The action plan builds on progress made since the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council’s (BBSRC) first equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) action plan published in 2023.
The plan identifies where more work is needed to address ongoing challenges, including:
- the under-representation of female leaders
- inequity across ethnic groups
- bias in peer review
Progress since 2022
Since 2022, BBSRC investments have delivered tangible improvements across the bioscience community.
Female representation on the BBSRC Pool of Experts has increased from 29% in 2022 to 36% in 2024, and 41% of committee members were female in 2024.
Investment through the Connecting Culture Fund and EDI Network Grants has supported a range of successful initiatives, from mentoring and leadership training to neurodiversity awareness and support for research technical professionals (RTPs).
Supporting research technical professionals
RTPs are specialist staff who provide essential expertise across BBSRC-funded research and recent work has focused on strengthening their recognition, career development and voice within decision-making.
An RTP advisory group, established in 2023, gives technicians a direct route to shape BBSRC policy.
BBSRC’s Pool of Experts now includes dedicated RTP representation alongside early career researchers.
Eligibility rules for the Flexible Talent Mobility Awards have also been strengthened, raising the required proportion of RTP beneficiaries from 20% to 25%.
Individual projects have delivered tangible results too.
From a technical professional network that grew from two institutions to 65 RTPs across more than 34 organisations, to skills exchanges, leadership training and international secondments supporting technicians to build specialist expertise.
Mentoring and leadership development
The MentforMe project, led by The Pirbright Institute and delivered across BBSRC’s eight strategically supported institutes, tested flexible mentoring models and created 98 mentoring pairs.
This included participation from under-represented groups exceeding institutional benchmarks by up to 10 percentage points.
The programme has since inspired new mentoring schemes at several institutes including:
- John Innes Centre
- Earlham Institute
- Quadram Institute
The Empowering the UK Wheat Community to Achieve Gender Parity project, led by the John Innes Centre and The Sainsbury Laboratory, expanded mentoring and leadership training for women across the wheat research network.
It engaged researchers from as far afield as Mexico, Morocco and Kenya.
It also helped two mentees secure independent research leadership roles during the project period alone.
Building an inclusive culture
A neurodiversity awareness programme at the John Innes Centre, funded through BBSRC’s Connecting Culture Fund, reached over 600 people through e-learning, far exceeding its original target of 200.
It also delivered 15 training sessions across seven BBSRC institutes.
This led to the creation of new support networks including the ‘Neurodiversity Nook’ at the Quadram Institute and wide use of the training resources across the UK.
Presentation skills training for women scientists was delivered through an EDI Network Grant to the Bioimaging UK and Physics of Life networks.
90% of participants reported feeling that their voice and perspective as scientists were worth hearing.
Summer studentships for undergraduates from low-income backgrounds also attracted strong demand, with 57 supervisors from 23 UK institutions submitting project opportunities for just 20 places.
A collaboration with The Genetics Society, where students from minoritised or disadvantaged backgrounds were provided hands-on research experience, demonstrated that new ways of managing the application process were effective in reducing barriers to participation.
Priorities for 2026 to 2028
Building on this progress, the refreshed action plan sets out four priority themes for 2026 to 2028:
- continuously learning and improving how BBSRC works, including developing a stronger evidence base for EDI challenges in the biosciences
- ensuring accessibility to all BBSRC activities and programmes, including a renewed focus on improving participation and equity for Black British researchers
- diversifying career pathways into and through the biosciences, including continued support for early career researchers and technical professionals
- leading for the biosciences as part of wider UK Research and Innovation efforts, including a second Connecting Culture Conference hosted by the Roslin Institute in 2026
Reflecting on the plan’s ambition
Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith, BBSRC Executive Chair, said:
Our first EDI Action Plan showed what is possible when we listen to our community and back that up with real investment and action.
From new mentoring networks to stronger support for our research technical professionals, we have seen the difference that targeted, evidence-led interventions can make.
But we know there is more to do.
The best bioscience depends on the widest range of voices, ideas and perspectives and this action plan sets out how we will continue to remove barriers, build confidence and further create a bioscience community where everyone can thrive and contribute to their full potential.
An independent perspective
Dr Andrew Lin, Chair of BBSRC’s EDI Expert Advisory Group and Senior Lecturer at The University of Sheffield, said:
As Chair of the EDI Expert Advisory Group, I’ve seen first-hand the honest reflection and engagement with feedback that has gone into developing this plan.
BBSRC has been open about where progress has been made and equally candid about the challenges that remain.
This plan reflects genuine engagement with the community it serves and sets out a credible, evidence-based path for the next three years.
Developed with the community
The refreshed plan was developed following extensive consultation with BBSRC’s EDI Expert Advisory Group, researchers, staff and partner organisations throughout 2025.
It reflects BBSRC’s ambition to be pioneering in its approach to enhancing EDI within the bioscience research and innovation community.