Our People

We are committed to advancing gender equality and fostering an inclusive community through our Gender Equality Action Plan 2024-28. As part of this commitment, we launched our first annual Gender Equality Conference in May 2025 to celebrate success and share best practice from across the institution and beyond, creating a forum for feedback, networking and insights.

Future events will look to invite people from other higher education institutions to network and share knowledge, learning and best practice. Together, we are leading progress towards a fair, socially just, and inclusive society.

Discover the Gender Equality Conference action plan.

As part of our Wellbeing, Inclusion and Culture Committee priorities, we are pleased to launch our new colleague mentoring scheme hosted on the new platform Perform Learn Develop (PLD). PLD is designed to connect colleagues across the University through responsive and flexible mentoring opportunities, providing a clear and supportive framework to help mentors and mentees establish and manage mentoring relationships. 

With categories including career development, leadership, research skills, and global networking, PLD provides a structured yet adaptable framework to support meaningful mentoring relationships.
This initiative strengthens our commitment to professional development, collaboration and connection, helping colleagues grow and thrive across our University.

Learn more about our mentoring scheme.

We are committed to developing strong support and development programmes for our colleagues. Our Talent Innovation, Discovery and Engagement (TIDE) scheme is an internal talent development programme that brings together a cohort of 50 talented and innovative colleagues from our Professional Services divisions to discover more about how our University works.

Through TIDE, colleagues can develop their talent, build their internal networks, and grow their capacity for innovation, creativity, and reflection. The programme offers opportunities to join a programme of discovery about the University, demonstrate strategic awareness and engagement, and take part in presentations, workshops, and short projects within and beyond their division. Participants also benefit from access to mentoring, career conversations, peer support, and action learning.

Find out more about TIDE.

In line with our ambitions to support everyone to thrive, be fulfilled and reach their potential, we have introduced new measures to help colleagues manage ill health and support disabled colleagues. These include Tailored Adjustment Plans (TAPs), providing a structured way for employees and managers to agree and record workplace adjustments; Disability leave, time off for medical treatment or appointments as a reasonable adjustment; and updated guidance webpages, offering practical advice and resources to support health, wellbeing and sickness management.

We have successfully achieved the University Mental Health Charter (UMHC) Award from Student Minds, joining 22 other universities recognised for their commitment to mental health. Commended for our governance processes, research-led practice, and strong student voice, the award celebrates our whole-university approach to mental health.

As part of the achievement, we surpassed the initial aim of ‘Award in Progress’, demonstrating our commitment to prioritising mental health and wellbeing and working collaboratively with colleagues and students to continuously develop support across the University.

Learn more about our University Mental Health Charter. 

We are proud to have been shortlisted for the University HR Awards 2025 for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, in recognition of our Future Leaders and Innovators Graduate Scheme, which has significantly increased applications from underrepresented groups.

The shortlisting acknowledges how we are driving meaningful change through the Future Leaders and Innovators Graduate Scheme, which offers graduates rotational placements across our Professional Services, alongside a specialist Digital & IT stream.

The scheme, which provides graduates with structured learning, senior mentorship, and professional accreditation, ensures they develop the skills required for leadership roles.

Find out about our Future Leaders and Innovators Graduate Scheme.

We are supporting our colleagues, students and wider community to improve their digital skills through our Digital Skills Initiative. The initiative aims to enhance engagement, learning outcomes, employability, and overall wellbeing as part of our Digital Strategy and Strategy 2030.

Through Phase One of the initiative, Digital Skills brings together a Self-Assessment Quiz and high-quality digital learning resources from across our University and beyond, providing colleagues with tailored tools to assess and develop their digital skills for both professional and personal growth.

Digital Skills is designed to support ongoing development, enhance digital confidence, and encourage healthy digital working habits. Together, we’re building a stronger, smarter digital future for the University. 

Explore the Digital Skills Initiative.

We continue to support each other to thrive, be fulfilled and reach our potential, as part of a diverse and inclusive community. Our five equality groups facilitate the implementation of recommended actions and ensure that Equality and Inclusion is a priority at the highest levels across our University. Our five equality groups are focused on: disability, gender, race, sexual orientation, and faith and worldview. Each group provides termly updates to the Wellbeing, Inclusion and Culture Committee (WICC), highlighting both positive action and any issues/concerns that have been raised.

Take a look at our Equality Groups

A new eLearning wellbeing module has been developed to support our leaders and managers by equipping them with the skills and knowledge to support others and enable a positive work experience for all. The training is evidence-based with tips on practical applications and has been developed by experts within our University including academics from Psychology. In 2023, this eLearning training won the Universities HR 2023 Award (wellbeing category) alongside our work to develop the Colleague Mental Health Champions network.

Find out more about the eLearning wellbeing module

We are committed to supporting the development of our colleagues throughout their careers and rewarding excellence wherever it is found. We recognise and reward excellence in the work of academic colleagues in a variety of ways, including through progression and promotions. During the 2022/23 academic year, an extensive review of our academic promotions processes and criteria was undertaken, following the development of Strategy 2030 and the changing needs of our institution. Recommendations and subsequent changes made as a result of the review came into effect from September 2024.

Engagement in our Bystander Intervention training by colleagues and students remains high and is helping to drive a cultural shift. As part of our commitment to creating an inclusive environment for our community, over 2000 students and 650 colleagues have already taken part in the training, which aims to provide the confidence and skills to help people intervene in situations where something feels wrong or where someone is being mistreated, in a way which can create a positive outcome. We want to positively change behaviours and help create a safe and inclusive environment across our campuses.

Find out more about the training

We launched the Exeter Future Leaders and Innovators Graduate Scheme in Professional Services in September 2024, designed to nurture the next generation of talent across our University. Over two years, our graduate cohort will work closely with faculties and departments, building their skills and networks to deliver five to six impactful projects to support our Strategy 2030 goals.
 
This initiative demonstrates our commitment to innovation and collaboration, equipping future leaders with the tools to excel in their careers.

Find out more about the Exeter Future Leaders and Innovators Graduate Scheme.

As part of our commitment to developing technology-enhanced, flexible working practices and development opportunities, we have created our PS Connect platform. Formed in May 2023, PS Connect transforms the way we deliver professional services; offering user focussed journeys to deliver cross-functional, integrated core services and support. Initially these services included HR, Finance, IT and Strategic Procurement and has since expanded to include Service Experience, Service Improvement and Development, Pensions and Receptions, with more services expected to come.

Explore PS Connect

We aim to prioritise the health and wellbeing of our University community, reducing stigma and encouraging open conversations about mental health, leading the way to a compassionate and inclusive society for all. One of the ways we’ve been raising awareness about mental health and wellbeing is through the ‘This is Me’ campaign. This storytelling movement encourages us all to share our personal experiences with mental health and show that no matter what you’re going through, you are not alone. By sharing our stories about mental health, we will reduce stigma, offer hope and provide support across our community.

Find out more about ‘This is Me’

Our Strategy 2030 goals commit us to a diverse, inclusive and compassionate future for all, in which we prioritise the health and wellbeing of our entire community. We were awarded the ‘Wellbeing’ Universities HR award at the Universities HR 2023 Annual Conference. In particular, we were recognised for the development of a new online training package for all people managers entitled ‘Supporting the mental wellbeing of your team’, as well as the development of a community of Colleague Mental Health Champions. We are committed to an interdisciplinary, consistent and long-term approach that embeds mental health and wellbeing policies into our University community.

Find out more about the award

We believe in a fair and inclusive workplace for all of our colleagues, fostering an environment where excellence is recognised across all careers. We appreciate the hard work, commitment and achievements of all colleagues both individually and as part of team, through various reward and recognition schemes. This includes recognising the invaluable contribution of our professional services colleagues at the PSRAs, which returned in June 2023. Over 450 nominations were received in total recognising the dedication and excellence across our professional services divisions.

Take a look at our 2023 nominees and winners

We have created a Wellbeing, Inclusion and Culture Committee (WICC) to ensure the delivery of our strategic priorities in health and wellbeing, diversity and inclusion and colleague experience and development. The committee is co-chaired by the Provost and Executive Divisional Director of HR, and brings together several reporting groups across our faculties and professional services with the aim of developing and promoting a culture of inclusivity and compassion across our campuses.

Find out more about the work we’re carrying out here.

We are proud to have achieved a Race Equality Charter (REC) bronze award in recognition of our commitment and efforts towards advancing race equality in higher education. Our ongoing equality, diversity and inclusion work has built a solid foundation for enhancing race equity and developing an inclusive culture that values and supports all our staff and students. Gaining the REC bronze award is just the first step in the continuation of our commitment to stand against discrimination in all its forms. As part of the application we developed an extensive race equality action plan which will be guiding our work over the coming years.

Find out more about the award.

As part of our commitment to creating an inclusive environment for our community, bystander training has been offered to all of our students, and over 500 have already taken part. The training aims to provide the confidence and skills to help our students intervene in situations, where something feels wrong or where someone is being mistreated, in a way which can create a positive outcome. We want to positively change behaviours and help create a safe and inclusive environment across our campuses.

Find out more about the training

Following the success of our previous cohort, funding has been secured to enable the Elevate leadership programme to be offered again for the 2022-23 academic year. Elevate creates a unique opportunity for professional services and academic colleagues who identify as women from minority ethnic groups, to meet, share, support and learn together. The programme brings together colleagues from across five universities in the South West of England and South Wales: (Bristol, Bath, Cardiff, Exeter, and UWE Bristol).

Find out more about Elevate

As part of our commitment to develop strong support and development programmes for our colleagues, we have launched Exeter Professional. Exeter Professional is specifically aimed at professional services colleagues to help support them to be the best they can be by providing access to development opportunities and tailored advice and guidance on their career pathways. 

Find out more

As part of our commitment to prioritise the health and wellbeing of our people, over 70 mental health champions are now in place across the University.  The role of the champions is to promote positive mental health and wellbeing within our community. They will help to raise awareness of mental health and wellbeing in the workplace, challenge the stigma surrounding mental health, talk to colleagues openly, as well as role modelling positive work practices and healthy behaviours and encouraging others to take part.

See our list of mental health champions

In September 2022 we created a simpler university structure focused on our three strategic goals (Environmental Sustainability, Health and Social Justice). Our three new faculties each champion one of our strategic aims. At the same time we also reshaped our professional services divisions from 12 to 8 enabling us to bring support closer to our academic and learning communities.  It is hoped our new structures will create strong foundations on which to deliver the goals we have set out in Strategy 2030.

View our faculties and departments