Our commitment

At Ancient + Brave, we believe that people do their best work when they feel safe, respected and able to be themselves. We are committed to building a workplace where everyone feels they belong, where differences are valued, and where fairness and respect shape how we work together every day.

Justice, equity, diversity and inclusion are not just legal obligations for us - they are fundamental to who we are, how we treat one another, and how we grow as a company. We are committed to creating an environment where people are supported to reach their full potential and where opportunities are accessible to all. 

We recognise that structural inequalities and barriers still exist in society and in business, and we are committed to actively identifying and addressing them within our organisation and across our operations.

This statement serves as a guiding framework to align our company values with actionable, systemic change, aiming to remove discrimination, foster belonging, and ensure fair treatment in our workplace and community.

It applies to everyone who works for or with Ancient + Brave, and applies to all our policies and practices across operations, customers, and community as well as  underpinning how we recruit, develop, support and work with our people.

What this statement covers

This statement applies to all employees, workers, contractors and self-employed consultants, regardless of role, seniority, working pattern or length of service. It applies to all aspects of employment and engagement, including recruitment, selection, onboarding, training, development, performance management, promotion, reward and day-to-day working relationships.

We are committed to ensuring that no one is treated less favourably, excluded, or disadvantaged because of a protected characteristic, including age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. We also recognise that discrimination can be direct or indirect, intentional or unintentional, and that its impact matters regardless of intent.

Inclusion and belonging

We value people as individuals with diverse identities, experiences, perspectives and ways of thinking. We recognise that people may belong to multiple groups and that experiences of disadvantage or exclusion can be complex and overlapping.

Our aim is not only to prevent discrimination, but to actively foster inclusion and belonging. This means creating a culture where people feel comfortable speaking up, challenging inappropriate behaviour, and contributing their ideas without fear of judgement or disadvantage.

Everyday actions matter. How we listen, communicate, make decisions and treat one another has a real impact on whether people feel included and respected.

Our shared responsibility

Creating an inclusive and equitable workplace is a shared responsibility.

• Leaders and managers are responsible for leading by example, making fair and inclusive decisions, and ensuring that policies and practices are applied consistently and thoughtfully.

• All employees and workers are responsible for treating others with dignity and respect, being mindful of the impact of their behaviour, and challenging discrimination or exclusion where it arises.

Discrimination, bullying, harassment or victimisation will not be tolerated. Breaches of this policy may result in disciplinary action.

Our commitments as an employer

As an employer, we are committed to:

• Creating a working environment where individual differences are recognised, valued and respected

• Ensuring that recruitment, development and progression decisions are based on skills, capability and potential

• Providing equal access to learning, development and career opportunities

• Making reasonable adjustments to remove barriers for disabled people and others who may need support

• Regularly reviewing our policies and practices to identify and address any unintended bias or inequality

• Taking concerns seriously and responding promptly, fairly and sensitively

Equity and inclusion are not only the right thing to do - they help us build stronger teams, make better decisions and create a healthier, more successful organisation.

Our commitments as a service provider

We are committed to delivering our services in a way that is inclusive, respectful and accessible. We aim to ensure that our clients, customers, partners and community are treated fairly and with dignity, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, caring responsibilities, offending background or social circumstances.

We aim to ensure our products, partnerships, marketing, and customer experience reflect our commitment to fairness, accessibility and representation, and that we engage with communities in ways that promote opportunity and respect.

We also expect suppliers, partners and collaborators to respect the principles of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in their own practices.

We will take reasonable steps to understand and respond to diverse needs and to remove barriers where possible.

Speaking up and raising concerns

We want people to feel confident raising concerns if something does not feel right. Anyone who believes they have been treated unfairly, or who witnesses behaviour that does not align with this policy, is encouraged to speak up.

Concerns can be raised informally where appropriate, or formally through the Grievance Policy. Serious concerns about wrongdoing that are in the public interest should be raised under the Whistleblowing Policy.

No one will be treated unfavourably for raising a concern in good faith or supporting another person to do so. Retaliation will not be tolerated.

Our approach to specific areas

We are committed to fairness and inclusion across all protected characteristics, including (but not limited to):

• Age – valuing people at all stages of their working lives

• Disability – making reasonable adjustments and removing barriers wherever possible

• Race and ethnicity – challenging racism and promoting equality

• Gender and gender identity – supporting equality and inclusion for all genders, including trans and non-binary people

• Sexual orientation – fostering an inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ people

• Religion or belief – respecting beliefs and observances where they do not conflict with the rights of others

• Pregnancy, maternity, marriage or civil partnership – ensuring no one is disadvantaged due to family or relationship status

We also recognise the importance of equal pay and are committed to ensuring that employees receive equal pay for equal work or work of equal value.

Monitoring, accountability and review

This statement is approved by the Board, which holds ultimate accountability for our JEDI commitment. The Board is responsible for ensuring the commitment is embedded across policies, practices and decision-making. 

This statement is made publicly available through our website. 

Our People Team will track progress through relevant people metrics, feedback and engagement data, and will periodically review our practices to identify areas for improvement. Where appropriate, we will share progress through internal updates or public reporting.

We recognise that embedding JEDI within the company is an ongoing process, and we are committed to listening, learning and improving as our organisation grows.