hello, I'm Steve.
I'm Steve Porch and I'm a specialist with 25 years experience working for the UK Government on Equality Law matters.
I am also the only person to have worked directly on both the 2006 and 2010 Equality Acts - which means I can offer you and your business the absolute best knowledge, information and training.
My Site is a place for you to explore and discover. Our platform is designed to provide a unique experience to all our users, allowing them to unleash their creativity and make meaningful connections.
At My Site, we believe in the power of expression. We strive to create a space where individuals can share their stories, passions, and talents with the world.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
I am a skilled, adept and experienced communicator and I am equally comfortable in the boardroom, the lecture hall, or in informal one-to-ones.
Professional Skills
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Expert-led Equality, Diversity & Inclusion training and workshops that are interactive and engaging
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Equality, Diversity & Inclusion consultancy, such as:- policy development; impact assessments; stakeholder engagement; and reviewing businesses' Equality, Diversity & Inclusion provisions.
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Guest speaking
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Working with businesses to develop tailor-made solutions to meet their individual needs
I have approximately 25 years experience of working for the UK Government in matters relating to Equality and Diversity, including dealing with delegations from the UN, the EU and various countries from around the world. I have worked closely with the Equality and Human Rights Commission, ACAS and various stakeholder groups concerned with equality and diversity, such as 'Equally Ours'.
I have extensive experience of advising Government Ministers in developing policy, often in emotive and sensitive areas such as same-sex marriage and caste. This included instructing and advising Ministers in meetings with stakeholders, fellow MPs, and preparations for Parliamentary debates. I have expansive knowledge of domestic equality law and I am the only person in GB who worked directly on both the Equality Act 2006 and the Equality Act 2010. My responsibilities included:
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Development of policies (including consultation and liaison with stakeholders)
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Assisting in the drafting of equality law
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Leading on taking parts of the Acts through the Parliamentary process
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Drafting guidance related to the Acts
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Leading on commencement of parts of the Acts (this involved working closely with lawyers, politicians, and lobby groups).
Following commencement of the Acts, I worked in a number of Government Departments, including the Home Office and the Cabinet Office. From 2006-2023 I was the civil servant with day-to-day responsibility for GB domestic legislative protections for both race and for religion or belief, and also for various other aspects of equality law, such as the use of positive action. This included advising or leading on various significant domestic case-law issues and development of subsequent policy responses.
Between 2016 - 2022, I also managed the Government contract for the Equality Advisory and Support Service, the national helpline that provides advice and support to members of the public who feel that they have suffered unlawful discrimination or had their human rights infringed. This included managing two separate tendering exercises for the service, where I had overall responsibility from writing the specification for service, leading the tender negotiation and evaluation process, through to managing the overall award of contract.
Since 2011, I have delivered training courses on equality law for fellow civil servants across a wide range of Whitehall Departments, and for local educational bodies including the University of Northampton.
I also have knowledge of the Human Rights Act (1998) and led the team that trained all HM Prison Service (HMPS) staff on the implementation of this. While working for HMPS, I was also Head of the International Prisoners section and worked on a project that related to diversifying the Prison Service chaplaincy to cater for the needs of non-Christian prisoners.
