An introduction to
opening up photonics
START
A partnership between:
Our vision
To build a more diverse and inclusive workforce within Scotland’s photonics & quantum sector and, in doing so, support the sector to achieve its aim to treble in size by 2030.
Our manifesto
Opening up Photonics is a platform supporting the Scottish photonics and quantum industry to discuss, challenge and address as a community, barriers faced by minority groups, with the aim of increasing accessibility, championing diversity, and ensuring a welcoming and supportive environment for all. For example, the Photonics in Scotland 2020 Report showed that only 27% of the sector workforce is female, which while better than the global average of 20% still leaves a lot of room for improvement.
Diversity is critical to the growth and development of the talent pool in Scotland. It helps organisations attract and retain the best and brightest talent. It makes organisations more adaptable, helps avoid group-think, and contributes to disrupting the status quo. Diversity is good for business because different perspectives drive innovation, accelerate growth, and lead to more robust decisions and outcomes. Simply it is the right thing to do.
We acknowledge that the photonics sector can and should do more, with greater energy and speed, to increase equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility within our organisations.
Diversity is not an end in itself, but a powerful means to collectively improve our sector. By broadening the talent pool from which we can select our workforce we can ensure that the recognised and chronic skills gaps of the sector can be minimised.
Diversity is more than statistics. It must also be felt and seen: in the actions taken, the language used, and our interactions.
In order to move forward, those of us who hold power must show through our actions and words that we are serious about delivering a more diverse photonics sector, and to hold ourselves accountable for seeking out and supporting a more equal sector, which benefits everyone.
Your support
To support the delivery of our vision, we are asking organisations within the Scottish photonics sector to commit to our ‘Opening up Photonics Principles’.
In committing to these principles you will not only be highlighting your own organisation’s drive towards a more diverse workforce but collectively we will also show the sector's proactive approach to developing the diverse talent pool required to meet our ambitious growth targets.
It is our hope that you will join us in this endeavour.
Opening up Photonics Principles
To show industry’s support for the Opening up Photonics initiative we are asking companies to commit to:
Making diversity in recruitment a priority by striving to hire a workforce as diverse as the communities in which we operate. There should be particular focus on senior management positions, but this also applies to apprenticeships, placements, and other employment opportunities.
01
Encouraging all employees, irrespective of their background, to apply for any position or training that fits their skill and experience.
02
Ensuring the importance of diversity is advertised in recruitment campaigns and communicated regularly to all people within your organisation.
03
05
Creating an accessible workplace in which every individual feels supported and inspired to operate to their full potential.
Provide education and training to help create an inclusive, collaborative, accountable culture which enables the skills, talent, experiences and diversity of employees to flourish.
04
Sign up to the Opening up Photonics principles
We are inviting photonics organisations across Scotland to sign up to our principles. There are two simple steps to sign up:
02
Permission to identify your organisation on the Opening up Photonics website as a supporter of the principles.
01
An email from a senior manager and/or appropriate HR colleague in your organisation indicating they would like to sign up and support the Opening up Photonics principles.
We encourage companies to show support for OuP by adding a statement or our logo to your website.
Each company will be asked to renew their commitment to the principles on an annual basis.
For any questions on signing up to the Opening up Photonics principles, please e-mail info@openingupphotonics.org
Our team
The Opening up Photonics team is made up of experienced individuals working within the photoics sector across the UK, find out more about them below.
Alison McLeodSenior Programme Manager (Photonics) Technology Scotland
Alison McLure Head of IOP Scotland
Matthew WasleyKnowledge Transfer Manager (Photonics) KTN
Kirsty Annand
External Engagement Manager PIADS CDT
Queens University Belfast and The University of Glasgow
Our early supporters
THANK YOU!
info@openingupphotonics.org
Corporate sponsor
An introduction to Opening up Photonics
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Transcript
An introduction to
opening up photonics
START
A partnership between:
Our vision
To build a more diverse and inclusive workforce within Scotland’s photonics & quantum sector and, in doing so, support the sector to achieve its aim to treble in size by 2030.
Our manifesto
Opening up Photonics is a platform supporting the Scottish photonics and quantum industry to discuss, challenge and address as a community, barriers faced by minority groups, with the aim of increasing accessibility, championing diversity, and ensuring a welcoming and supportive environment for all. For example, the Photonics in Scotland 2020 Report showed that only 27% of the sector workforce is female, which while better than the global average of 20% still leaves a lot of room for improvement.
Diversity is critical to the growth and development of the talent pool in Scotland. It helps organisations attract and retain the best and brightest talent. It makes organisations more adaptable, helps avoid group-think, and contributes to disrupting the status quo. Diversity is good for business because different perspectives drive innovation, accelerate growth, and lead to more robust decisions and outcomes. Simply it is the right thing to do.
We acknowledge that the photonics sector can and should do more, with greater energy and speed, to increase equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility within our organisations.
Diversity is not an end in itself, but a powerful means to collectively improve our sector. By broadening the talent pool from which we can select our workforce we can ensure that the recognised and chronic skills gaps of the sector can be minimised.
Diversity is more than statistics. It must also be felt and seen: in the actions taken, the language used, and our interactions.
In order to move forward, those of us who hold power must show through our actions and words that we are serious about delivering a more diverse photonics sector, and to hold ourselves accountable for seeking out and supporting a more equal sector, which benefits everyone.
Your support
To support the delivery of our vision, we are asking organisations within the Scottish photonics sector to commit to our ‘Opening up Photonics Principles’.
In committing to these principles you will not only be highlighting your own organisation’s drive towards a more diverse workforce but collectively we will also show the sector's proactive approach to developing the diverse talent pool required to meet our ambitious growth targets.
It is our hope that you will join us in this endeavour.
Opening up Photonics Principles
To show industry’s support for the Opening up Photonics initiative we are asking companies to commit to:
Making diversity in recruitment a priority by striving to hire a workforce as diverse as the communities in which we operate. There should be particular focus on senior management positions, but this also applies to apprenticeships, placements, and other employment opportunities.
01
Encouraging all employees, irrespective of their background, to apply for any position or training that fits their skill and experience.
02
Ensuring the importance of diversity is advertised in recruitment campaigns and communicated regularly to all people within your organisation.
03
05
Creating an accessible workplace in which every individual feels supported and inspired to operate to their full potential.
Provide education and training to help create an inclusive, collaborative, accountable culture which enables the skills, talent, experiences and diversity of employees to flourish.
04
Sign up to the Opening up Photonics principles
We are inviting photonics organisations across Scotland to sign up to our principles. There are two simple steps to sign up:
02
Permission to identify your organisation on the Opening up Photonics website as a supporter of the principles.
01
An email from a senior manager and/or appropriate HR colleague in your organisation indicating they would like to sign up and support the Opening up Photonics principles.
We encourage companies to show support for OuP by adding a statement or our logo to your website.
Each company will be asked to renew their commitment to the principles on an annual basis.
For any questions on signing up to the Opening up Photonics principles, please e-mail info@openingupphotonics.org
Our team
The Opening up Photonics team is made up of experienced individuals working within the photoics sector across the UK, find out more about them below.
Alison McLeodSenior Programme Manager (Photonics) Technology Scotland
Alison McLure Head of IOP Scotland
Matthew WasleyKnowledge Transfer Manager (Photonics) KTN
Kirsty Annand External Engagement Manager PIADS CDT Queens University Belfast and The University of Glasgow
Our early supporters
THANK YOU!
info@openingupphotonics.org
Corporate sponsor