Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy

Medicred Ltd is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion across all aspects of our operations. We strive to foster an inclusive culture where our employees, customers, and partners feel respected, valued, and empowered. As a healthcare finance provider, it is essential that our services are transparent, accessible, fair and free from unlawful discrimination.

We aim to build a workforce that reflects the diverse society we serve, and to ensure that everyone has equal opportunity to thrive and contribute meaningfully to our mission of supporting access to healthcare through responsible, inclusive lending.

Purpose of this Policy

This policy aims to:

1. Ensure dignity, fairness and equal treatment for all individuals who interact with Medicred Ltd, including employees, job applicants, contractors, third-party partners and customers.
2. Uphold full compliance with the Equality Act 2010, and not prohibit discrimination, harassment and victimisation on the basis of the following protected characteristics:
   • Age
   • Disability
   • Gender reassignment
   • Marriage and civil partnership
   • Pregnancy and maternity
   • Race (including colour, nationality, and ethnic or national origin)
   • Religion or belief
   • Sex
   • Sexual orientation
3. Prevent and challenge all forms of unlawful discrimination across: 
   
   
   • Recruitment and selection
   • Terms and conditions of employment
   • Pay and benefits
   • Promotion, training, and career development
   • Parental leave and flexible working
   • Disciplinary and grievance procedures
   • Redundancy, dismissal and all other aspects of employment

Our Commitments

Medicred Ltd commits to:

1. Actively promote equality, diversity and inclusion because it is both it is both ethically correct and fundamental to delivering fair outcomes for customers and staff.
2. Maintain a professional and inclusive working environment that is free from bullying, harassment, victimisation or unlawful discrimination. We value and respect individual differences and the unique contributions of our people.
3. Educate our workforce through ongoing training and awareness programmes, to ensure that employees understand their roles and responsibilities in creating an inclusive and respectful workplace culture.
4. Treat all complaints seriously, and investigate all complaints of discrimination, bullying or harassment thoroughly and sensitively. Allegations of bullying, harassment or unlawful discrimination will be addressed promptly, and where appropriate, disciplinary action will be taken in line with internal procedures. In serious cases, such acts may constitute gross misconduct or criminal offences and will be dealt with accordingly.
5. Encourage and support equal access to development, ensuring that training and progression opportunities are accessible and based on merit and capability, enabling individuals to fulfil their potential and contribute to Medicred’s growth.
6. Make reasonable adjustments, where appropriate, to accommodate the needs of individuals with disabilities or long-term health conditions.
7. Apply positive action measures, where permitted, under the Equality Act 2010, to address underrepresentation or disadvantage, without compromising merit-based selection.
8. Continuous reviewing and improvement of policies, procedures and working practices to ensure legal compliance, alignment with FCA expectations, non-financial misconduct and adapting to relevant legislative and societal changes.
9. Monitor workforce diversity by collecting anonymised data on key demographic indicators such as age, gender, ethnicity, disability, religion or belief and sexual orientation. This data informs our ongoing efforts to uphold this policy and to address any areas requiring improvement.
10. Report on our diversity and inclusion efforts and progress as part of our governance framework and commitment to transparency.

This policy will be reviewed annually and updated as required to reflect changes in legislation, regulation, and best practice. We are committed to taking proactive steps to address any issues identified and to ensure that our workplace remains inclusive, equitable, and aligned with our values and regulatory obligations.