Race Race is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act. Within the Act, race means colour, nationality, citizenship, ethnic origin and national origin. Ethnic origin is only covered where the person's ethnicity is part of a recognised ethnic group. Recognised ethnic groups include: - Sikhs - Jews - Romany Gypsies - Irish Travellers - Scottish Gypsies - Scottish Travellers Facts and Figures The 2001 Census showed 7.9% of the UK population as being from an ethnic minority (4.6 million). Research indicates that ethnic minorities will make up a fifth of Britain's population by 2051 with the white British population shrinking from 87.1% to 67.1% and the white Irish group shrinking from 2.5% to 2.1%. The other white group share grows from 2.5% to 9.9% – the greatest gain – largely as a result of immigration from Europe, the US and Australasia. Traditional immigrant groups of south Asian origin (Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi) will also grow rapidly. (University of Leeds 2010) In 2008/09, 2.4 million students enrolled in higher education in the UK. The undergraduate population has been growing rapidly over the past 12 years. In 1996/97 there were 1,392,000 undergraduates but by 2008/09 this had reached 1,796,000. (EHRC Triennial Review 2010) The proportion of university places taken by ethnic minority students increased, from 13% of students in 1994/95 to 23% in 2008/09, a figure broadly proportionate to their size in the young population. Students from different ethnic minority groups have different outcomes when studying for their first degree, with students from some ethnic minority groups far less likely to leave university with a first or upper second class degree than others. In 2008/09 White students were most likely to achieve this level with nearly 7 in 10 (67%) White students leaving with a first or upper second class degree, compared to just under 4 in 10 Black students (38%). (EHRC Triennial Review 2010) Black, Pakistani/Bangladeshi and Other Asian groups generally have significantly worse outcomes in terms of employment and earnings, compared to White British people. This difference is particularly stark at the degree level, where earnings of Black male graduates are 24% lower than those of White British male graduates, even when holding occupation and industry constant. (EHRC Triennial Review 2010) Useful Links and Support Advisory Conciliation Arbitration Service (ACAS) Equality and Human Rights Commission Trade Union Congress Home Office Equalities information Race for Opportunity This information is provided by the Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion. To find out more about the enei, go to www.enei.org.uk.

Race

Race is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act. Within the Act, race means colour, nationality, citizenship, ethnic origin and national origin. Ethnic origin is only covered where the person's ethnicity is part of a recognised ethnic group.

Recognised ethnic groups include:

- Sikhs
- Jews
- Romany Gypsies
- Irish Travellers
- Scottish Gypsies
- Scottish Travellers

Facts and Figures
The 2001 Census showed 7.9% of the UK population as being from an ethnic minority (4.6 million).

Research indicates that ethnic minorities will make up a fifth of Britain's population by 2051 with the white British population shrinking from 87.1% to 67.1% and the white Irish group shrinking from 2.5% to 2.1%. The other white group share grows from 2.5% to 9.9% – the greatest gain – largely as a result of immigration from Europe, the US and Australasia. Traditional immigrant groups of south Asian origin (Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi) will also grow rapidly. (University of Leeds 2010)

In 2008/09, 2.4 million students enrolled in higher education in the UK. The undergraduate population has been growing rapidly over the past 12 years. In 1996/97 there were 1,392,000 undergraduates but by 2008/09 this had reached 1,796,000. (EHRC Triennial Review 2010)

The proportion of university places taken by ethnic minority students increased, from 13% of students in 1994/95 to 23% in 2008/09, a figure broadly proportionate to their size in the young population. Students from different ethnic minority groups have different outcomes when studying for their first degree, with students from some ethnic minority groups far less likely to leave university with a first or upper second class degree than others. In 2008/09 White students were most likely to achieve this level with nearly 7 in 10 (67%) White students leaving with a first or upper second class degree, compared to just under 4 in 10 Black students (38%). (EHRC Triennial Review 2010)

Black, Pakistani/Bangladeshi and Other Asian groups generally have significantly worse outcomes in terms of employment and earnings, compared to White British people. This difference is particularly stark at the degree level, where earnings of Black male graduates are 24% lower than those of White British male graduates, even when holding occupation and industry constant. (EHRC Triennial Review 2010)

Useful Links and Support

Advisory Conciliation Arbitration Service (ACAS)
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Trade Union Congress
Home Office Equalities information
Race for Opportunity

This information is provided by the Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion. To find out more about the enei, go to www.enei.org.uk.