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With rising international student numbers, BBS responded to the challenges of managing large, diverse cohorts by embedding EDI within core teaching practice. Modules such as International Strategic Management and Professional Competence now integrate sessions on cultural understanding, professionalism, and inclusive behaviour. EDI-focused lectures are embedded across the curriculum, helping students understand both academic content and the inclusive values that underpin professional success.

BBS’s Business Clinic, supports a wide range of local businesses, including those led by women and individuals from minority backgrounds. The Clinic has facilitated a number of guest speakers across modules, including high-profile female leaders such as the former CHRO of Harrods and senior executives from the NHS and policing sectors.

Our academic and professional staff actively share personal journeys through student workshops and mentoring. For example, a lecturer recently shared his experience as a disabled international student, inspiring students with a message of resilience and support. We also highlight student achievements such as Kristen, a BSc Banking and Finance student who earned a place on the prestigious Société Générale ‘Young Women into Finance’ internship, one of only five selected from over 10,000 applicants.

Our research seminars regularly feature scholars from underrepresented backgrounds, offering not only academic inspiration but also vital representation. These speakers model how academic success can be forged despite structural inequalities within HE and society. Internally, colleagues like Yener Altunbas are producing impactful research on gender and climate change that has reached policy and media audiences, while others contribute research on women in sport, employability among equity groups, and inclusive research practice:

Dr Charlotte Smith leads on PhD ESRC applications, supporting equitable access to funding and doctoral pathways. Additionally, colleagues have published guides for early-career researchers to promote equitable inclusion in academic authorship and idea development. For instance, colleagues have been contributing to Bangor Athena Swan Inclusion Scholarship as members of interview panel, to encourage students from disadvantaged backgrouynd to purchase masters degree at Bangor.

Several high-impact academic publications by BBS researchers further underpin our commitment to diversity and inclusion:

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Mentoring is a key element of staff development at BBS. Dr Fariba Darabi plays a significant role in onboarding and supporting early career academics. Dr Felix Shi contributes to EDI at both school and national levels, including on external advisory boards. His contributions were commended by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) during a recent audit for his leadership on EDI.

Leadership as part of our ongoing commitment to supporting the career progression and leadership development of women in higher education, the school actively encourages staff participation in the Advance HE Aurora Leadership Programme. Several members of academic and professional services staff have either completed or are currently enrolled on the programme, which is designed to enable women to think of themselves as leaders and develop the confidence and skills to progress in their careers. Participation in Aurora has led to increased visibility of female leadership within the School, and several colleagues have gone on to take on key roles such as programme directors, committee chairs, and mentoring coordinators. We continue to promote the scheme through internal communications, one-to-one development discussions, and performance review processes, ensuring that all eligible staff are aware of the opportunity and supported in their application.

The “Penny for Your Thoughts” podcast, hosted by BBS, provides a platform for inclusive dialogue. Recent episodes have spotlighted Black Lives Matter, gendered inequalities in the benefits system, and featured interviews with female entrepreneurs and leaders. Listener engagement data helps us measure impact and reach, highlighting the value of this initiative in embedding inclusive discourse in the public domain.

We take pride in our commitment to Welsh language inclusion. Staff contribute bilingual commentary on key social and economic issues, increasing accessibility to research and public dialogue. Welsh-medium teaching and communication are actively supported across the School.

Members of staff are actively engaged in university-wide inclusion networks. One colleague is a member of the LGBTQ+ staff network, contributing to monthly policy reviews and feedback mechanisms. Another has recently joined the newly launched neurodiversity network, marking a growing recognition of diverse needs within our academic community.

This internal initiative, led by Hanxiong Zhang, Siwan Mitchelmore, Elizabeth Heyworth-Thomas, and Heather He, promotes sustainable enterprise education and socially responsible entrepreneurship, benefiting both staff and students.

Bangor Business School’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Lead, Dr Felix Shi has contributed to Welsh Business School  initiative, hosted by Swansea University. This collaborative work has supported the sharing of best practice across institutions and has directly influenced ongoing EDI developments within the school. The EDI Lead was involved in the co-creation and evaluation of inclusive curriculum materials, policy guidance, and practical toolkits designed to embed EDI principles across teaching, learning and staff development practices. Through participation in a community of practice, they contributed insights from the Bangor context while learning from innovative approaches adopted at Swansea, including frameworks that support intersectional inclusion and equitable academic leadership. This cross-institutional collaboration has had a positive and measurable impact on BBS. It has informed the refinement of our inclusive curriculum approach, supported the redesign of our EDI induction and training materials, and encouraged the wider adoption of inclusive pedagogies across our teaching teams. It also exemplifies the outward-facing leadership of our EDI function and the commitment of BBS to contributing to sector-wide change.

In 2022, the school supported a PhD student through the Council for At-Risk Academics (CARA) programme, an initiative aimed at safeguarding academics whose lives and work are at risk due to political unrest, conflict, or oppression. This particular award supported a female scholar, aligning with Athena Swan’s core values around the protection, inclusion, and advancement of women in academia. The school provided both financial support and academic mentorship, enabling the student to continue her research in a safe and supportive environment. This demonstrates our broader commitment to equity, global academic solidarity, and the advancement of underrepresented voices within research communities.

Our outreach programme plays a strategic role in supporting our Athena Swan commitments, particularly around addressing gender imbalances and promoting equality of opportunity. Outreach has been intentionally designed to build sustained, meaningful engagement with local schools and colleges especially targeting students from disadvantaged or underrepresented backgrounds, including girls, Welsh-speaking communities, and those on vocational pathways. The school’s efforts focus on widening participation in business-related subjects by challenging stereotypes and creating inclusive, inspiring learning experiences that demonstrate who can succeed in disciplines such as Business, Accounting, and Economics. Recent initiatives have made significant contributions toward these aims. The launch of the North Wales Economics Conference in 2024, delivered in partnership with the Welsh Government and Discover Economics, welcomed over 120 students from Years 11 to 13. With a strong focus on gender and socioeconomic inclusion, the event offered relatable insights into economics through keynote speeches, interactive sessions, and policy simulations aiming to make the subject more accessible and appealing, particularly for girls. Similarly, experiential outreach workshops such as the Investment Challenge, Marketing Challenge, and Aspirational Leadership Challenge have been delivered in sixth forms across the region. These hands-on sessions not only equip students with practical, transferable skills, but also raise aspirations and confidence among those less likely to view higher education as a natural progression.

The school has also delivered guest lectures and subject taster sessions in behavioural economics, financial literacy, and accounting ethics, specifically tailored to local audiences and designed to connect academic ideas to real-world relevance. These sessions are mindful of the barriers some students especially girls and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds face when visualising themselves in academic or professional roles in business. Complementing this, we have worked actively to promote alternative pathways into Accounting and Finance, highlighting clear transitions for vocational learners, such as those holding AAT qualifications. By demystifying these routes, the School has expanded the pipeline for students from non-traditional backgrounds.

A pilot Coding and Analytics Club has been introduced to support early digital literacy, with a focus on engaging underrepresented groups, particularly girls. Through tools like Python and visual analytics, this initiative is helping to build digital confidence and encourage interest in fast-growing fields like fintech and business data analytics. Collectively, these programmes demonstrate Bangor Business School’s ongoing commitment to equality and inclusion—translating Athena Swan principles into visible, practical action that positively impacts the wider community.