Diversity and Inclusion
Join Us
At the Royal Opera House our people are as varied as the jobs they do and we think this difference is one of our strengths. The one thing we all have in common is a commitment to excellence. So we are all different, but the same: electricians, scene-movers, apprentices, armourers, wig-makers, fundraisers, digital and technology professionals, ushers, performers.
We value our people and believe it is in the best interests of the Royal Opera House to recognise their talents and develop their potential along their chosen career path. Everyone has a right to be treated with respect and we are committed to providing a harmonious working environment with equality and opportunity for all.
To find the best people and encourage them to join us we operate a fair and transparent selection and recruitment process. Equality, diversity, and inclusion are integral to our role as a national arts’ organisation and we seek, particularly, to employ people with talent and skill currently under-represented in the workplace.
If you feel that you have what it takes, our doors are open. The next step is yours. We look forward to welcoming you.
Committed to Inclusion
enei: The Royal Opera House is a member of the Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion (enei), which is the UK’s leading employer network covering all aspects of equality and inclusion in the workplace.
Stonewall:The Royal Opera House is a member of Stonewall's Diversity Champions programme – Britain's leading employers' forum on sexual orientation and gender identity, working to develop inclusive workplace cultures. This year we took part in the Workplace Equality Index and are proactively working with Stonewall to become a more inclusive and welcoming organization.
Disability Confident is a government scheme that works with employers to:
- engage and encourage them to become more confident so they employ and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions
- increase understanding of disability and the benefits of employing or retaining disabled people
- ensure disabled people have opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations
- make a substantial contribution to halving the disability employment gap.
The Equality Act (2010) defines ‘disability’ as a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on someone’s ability to do normal daily activities.
Employers who participate in the Disability Confident scheme are assessed in terms of the level of their commitment – either as Committed, Employer or Leader.
The Royal Opera House has been assessed as a Disability Confident Employer.
As a Disability Confident Employer we are committed to:
- Ensure our recruitment processes are inclusive and accessible
- Communicate and promote our vacancies publicly
- Offer an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job (The Guaranteed Interview Scheme)
- Anticipate and provide reasonable adjustments to job applicants and employees as required
- Support any existing employee who acquires a disability or long term health condition, enabling them to stay in work
- At least one activity that will make a difference for disabled people.
The Guaranteed Interview Scheme
A key requirement of the Disability Confident scheme is to offer an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for a job. The minimum criteria are specific to each job and are defined in the relevant job description. If you would like to participate in the guaranteed interview scheme, you will be invited to indicate that you wish to do so as part of your job application.
Please note that the commitment is to provide access to interviews for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria, not to guarantee them employment. This government-led positive action is intended to help create a fair and level playing field for disabled applicants to demonstrate their skills and experience, and is permitted by The Equality Act (2010) in a way that is not permitted for other protected characteristics.
We provide feedback to any Disability Confident applicants who do not demonstrate that they meet the minimum criteria for the job.
Our partners
We are pleased to partner with a number of organisations who work to provide employment opportunities for disabled people.
Inclusion London
We are currently participating in a pilot of the Making It Work scheme for the creative sector. The programme works to improve young disabled people’s chances of employment and challenge the barriers to getting into work. Run by Inclusion London it is delivered in partnership with Deaf and Disabled people’s organisations across London and is funded by the City Bridge Trust. The creative sector pilot is supported by Arts Council England. The pilot is currently on hold during the pandemic but will hopefully recommence in 2021.
Unity Works
Unity Works runs services across London and Oxfordshire. With a reputation for creativity, innovation and enterprise they generate new opportunities for people with disabilities to achieve greater equality. The Royal Opera House is working with Unity Works to become more disability confident and provide support for young disabled people to find employment with us.
Shape Arts
Shape Arts is a disability-led arts organisation working to provide opportunities and support for disabled artists, as well as disabled individuals wanting to work in the arts and cultural sector. The Royal Opera House has worked with Shape Arts to encourage greater inclusiveness and to better develop confidence in working with disabled people.
We are always looking for new ways to make our job opportunities accessible to disabled people. If you represent disabled people seeking employment and are interested in exploring the possibility of working with us, please do get in touch.
Employment Programmes
We are also working with a number of organisations offering employment support such as the Cross River Partnerships Recruit London Programme, The Prince's Trust, Westminster Works and number of local Job Centres in Lambeth, Southwark and Thurrock to support local unemployed people into work and provide the opportunity to develop fulfilling careers.
Diversity Profile Monitoring
The Royal Opera House is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on a person’s age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity status, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. We actively encourage people from diverse backgrounds to join our teams and value the positive impact that difference has on our work. We particularly encourage applications from people that are currently underrepresented in the Performing Arts and at the Royal Opera House including those from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds and disabled people.
We will ask you to complete a diversity profile monitoring form with your application. We understand that people may be concerned about sharing personal information with an organisation and that there may be uncertainty about where this information might end up. You are not obliged to complete the form. However please be assured that the information collected is kept entirely confidential and retained only in the Human Resources department. Equality and diversity reporting is not attributable to individuals and the hiring panel will never see this information.
Monitoring the diversity profile of applicants for our jobs at every stage of the recruitment process allows us to review and monitor our processes and make sure we are being fair and equitable throughout.
For more information on why monitoring is important, see Stonewall’s What’s It Got To You With You?
If you have any queries or concerns about this process please email the HR team hr.recruitment@roh.org.uk.
Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation, a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales (Company number 480523) Charity Registered (Number 211775)