Careers

The Parliament is an inclusive organisation. We want to:

• recruit people from different social, ethnic and economic backgrounds

• help young people get into work

• retain and support our diverse workforce

Applying for a job

We want to make sure that all job applicants and staff are treated fairly, with respect and without bias. No job applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment than others because of their:

• age

• disability (unless such treatment is objectively justified)

• gender identity

• sex 

• sexual orientation, marital or family status

• racial group (includes colour, race, nationality, national or ethnic origin)

• religion, religious belief, or a similar philosophical belief (or lack of any of these)

• part-time or fixed-term contract status (unless such treatment is objectively justified)

• trade union membership status/activities

• offending background

We guarantee to interview any disabled applicants who meet the essential requirements for the job applied for.

We're committed to:

• building a diverse and representative workforce

• promoting equality of opportunity and treatment 

• eliminating unfair discrimination in our employment practices

We strive to make our recruitment and selection policies and procedures as accessible as possible. We’ve put in place measures to support our approach. 

We monitor our processes to ensure fairness and take action to address any under or over representation. 

To help us understand who is interested in working with us, we ask all candidates to provide some information about themselves at the application stage. This information is important in helping us to deliver our commitment to building a more inclusive and diverse organisation.

The information candidates provide is: 

• Treated confidentially 

• Not provided to anyone involved in the shortlisting or appointment of the post 

• Collated in a way that cannot be linked to individuals 

Our recruitment approach makes sure all candidates are treated fairly throughout the whole process.

We’re accredited as a Disability Confident Leader, showing our commitment to supporting disabled applicants and staff. We’re happy to discuss adjustments you may need to support you in applying for a role and during employment. 

We value diversity of thought, and welcome applications from people with autism, dyslexia, ADHD, and other neurodiversity.

We’re committed to the dignity and wellbeing of all colleagues. Our policies make it clear that we do not tolerate bullying and harassment. 

Please see our recruitment process for further information

Our diversity networks provide support to staff with particular experiences and backgrounds.

Our diverse workforce brings a range of experiences and views, which help us work better. 

We know that to have a diverse workforce we need to create a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique role.

Our networks are a good way to:

• connect with people from all over the Parliament 

• build contacts 

• share experiences 

• shape our workplace

• socialise

Organisations we work with support us with our diversity aims. 

We want our staff to enjoy coming to work, feel valued for their contribution and excel in their chosen careers. 

To help us achieve these goals we work with partners and campaigns such as:

• Disability Confident: supports employers to make the most of the talents disabled people can bring to the workplace 

• We use the Happy to Talk Flexible Working logo from Working Families to show that we are happy to discuss working arrangements  

• Carer Positive: works with employers to build support for staff with caring responsibilities 

• We are accredited as a Living Wage Employer from Living Wage Scotland

The underlying goal of all our work is to make a positive difference to the lives of the people of Scotland. This means putting people at the centre of everything we do.

Diversity Monitoring and Pay Gap Report

Our annual Diversity Monitoring and Pay Gap Reports give an update on progress we are making in equity, diversity and inclusion for our workforce. The report provides information about the diversity of our staff group; our recruitment aims and our gender, ethnicity and disability pay gaps.

Diversity Monitoring and Pay Gap Report 2022/23

Diversity Monitoring and Pay Gap Report 2021/22 (17MB, pdf) posted 08 March 2022

Watch summaries of both Reports in British Sign Language (BSL)