It’s National Inclusion Week 2026 in the UK, with organisations encouraged to build trust and navigate change for inclusive workplaces.
Founded by Inclusive Employers in 2013, National Inclusion Week is all about taking action to create inclusive workplaces and celebrating diversity and inclusion.
This year, the theme for the national awareness campaign is “Build Trust. Navigate Change,” representing the changing world that organisations and businesses across the UK find themselves in.
Inclusive Employers says the theme acknowledges that expectations in the workplace are shifting while, at the same time, budgets are being pulled tighter than ever. They believe this has led to greater scrutiny being placed on inclusion even as HR, people and inclusion teams fight to make meaningful progress in the world of work.
They argue that this “meaningful progress” does not need to take place in perfect conditions.
National Inclusion Week puts the spotlight on action
Inclusive Employers says that inclusion happens when, despite barriers and challenges, organisations commit to listening, adapting and taking action.
Action is the key word. As Inclusive Employers assert:
“[…] inclusion requires more than intention alone. It requires ongoing action, accountability and a willingness to keep moving forward, even during periods of uncertainty and change.”
This National Inclusion Week they will encourage organisations and individuals to:
- Reflect on the barriers still impacting inclusion
- Build trust through honest conversations about change
- Take practical action that creates meaningful progress
- Embed inclusion into everyday workplace culture
They want employers to reflect on “the actions they can take to create more inclusive workplaces where everyone can thrive.”
Indeed, National Inclusion Week is specifically designed to involve everyone and engage all communities across gender, race, religion, LGBTQ+, disability, carers and social mobility.
Take part in National Inclusion Week 2026
Inclusive Employers provides a range of free campaign resources to support organisations to participate in National Inclusion Week, and this includes a campaign toolkit, expert services and speakers.
Their free launch webinar also explored the 2026 theme in more detail and provided examples of how organisations can create meaningful change during periods of uncertainty.
New for 2026, they are also introducing the National Inclusion Week Awards to celebrate the organisations, leaders, colleague networks and initiatives that are creating positive change and driving meaningful inclusion in practice. The inaugural awards ceremony will be held in London on 17th September.
Organisations celebrate their inclusion journeys
National Inclusion Week is supported by organisations across the UK, from recruitment agencies to top universities and leading charities.
The social care charity Making Space launched its Creating a Place for Everyone EDI Strategy and three-year Action Plan in the last 12 months and has worked to grow its network of EDI Ambassadors, introduced new focused training and inclusive policies and celebrated colleagues who have brought inclusion to life across its services.
The Chief Executive of Making Space, Rachel Peacock, says the charity’s EDI strategy has given them “a clear vision” but added that “what matters most is the difference that commitment makes in people’s everyday experiences.”
She explains:
“I am incredibly proud of the progress we’re making – from our growing network of EDI Ambassadors and the conversations taking place across our organisation, to inclusive leadership training changes to our policies and fantastic examples of EDI being brought to life within our services.
“There is always more to learn and more we can do. Inclusion isn’t something we achieve through one strategy, policy or awareness week; it comes from listening, challenging ourselves and making thoughtful choices every day.”
Echoing the key aims of Inclusive Employers, she concludes:
“National Inclusion Week is a valuable opportunity to celebrate how far we’ve come, while renewing our commitment to creating a Making Space where everyone feels valued, respected and able to thrive.”
The University of Sussex is also a key champion of National Inclusion Week. Their strategy, Sussex 2035, sets out their aim to create a university “where every student and member of staff can realise their goals, be themselves and do their best work.”
This is supported through the Inclusive Sussex Framework 2025-35 and their Open Listening Programme and promoted by their Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Champions and Associate Deans for Culture, Equality and Inclusion.
These are just two examples of organisations taking action and creating change for good to embed equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace, supported by the work of Inclusive Employers and the annual National Inclusion Week campaign.
Training and support for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
First Response Training (FRT) is one of the UK’s largest and leading national training providers.
They deliver a wide and diverse range of training for businesses and organisations across all industry sectors and throughout the UK. Their course range includes training in the fields of health and safety, first aid, fire safety, manual handling, mental health, food safety, health and social care and more.
Their health and safety training is mapped to current UK standards and legislation and follows HSE guidelines. It includes training awards in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Learning Disability Awareness, SEND and Barriers to Learning, Health and Safety, Managing and Supervising Risk and more.
Based on a common sense, proportionate approach to workplace safety, training helps learners to understand the true benefits of creating a healthy, safe and inclusive environment at work.
A trainer from FRT explains:
“National Inclusion Week should serve as a reminder for all employers that if the workplace is not safe, supportive and enabling for all workers then you are potentially missing out on valuable diverse talent, ideas, perspectives and experience.
“Protecting the health, safety and welfare of employees goes far beyond minimising risks to their physical safety and really requires a holistic approach to ensure they are properly supported and have a positive experience in the workplace.”
You can download FRT’s free guides on:
- Creating a happy and inclusive working environment
- How to Create an Inclusive Workplace for Neurodivergent Employees
Beyond National Inclusion Week
FRT are themselves a Disability Confident Committed Employer and were recently awarded Inclusive Worcestershire Leader Status. They were also nominated in the Employer category at the recent National Learning Disability Awards 2025.
As part of their successful national delivery of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training Framework on Learning Disability and Autism, FRT employs over 100 Experts with Lived Experience Co-Trainers. These are individuals with lived experience of a learning disability or autism who co-deliver important and impactful training sessions alongside facilitating trainers.
FRT has introduced a number of measures to support their Expert Co-Trainers, including Easy Read documentation, a dedicated support phone line and dedicated office-based pastoral support.
Amratpal Bhogal, Expert with Lived Experience of a Learning Disability at FRT, says:
“The support I’ve received has been incredible.”
For more information on any of the training courses that FRT can provide, please call them today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or e-mail info@firstresponsetraining.com.