Diversity is an everyday reality at NOCN : Qualification organization first of its kind to win prestigious award

Purpose – This paper aims to chart the course of NOCN, one of Britain's largest qualification organizations, to the achievement of an Investor in Diversity award from the National Center for Diversity. Design/methodology/approach – It explains the organization's policies in areas including Asperger's syndrome awareness, trans‐gender, equal opportunities, dignity at work, and harassment and bullying. Findings – The paper reveals that NOCN achieved its diversity award by making sure that all the people it works with – including employees, education and training centers and their learners – understand diversity and the organization's commitment to including everyone. Practical implications – It demonstrates that creating opportunities is at the heart of everything NOCN does and is essential to the way it works with its centers and learners. The NOCN team is encouraging training centers to become involved with the Leaders in Diversity program as it runs workshops for them. Social implications – This study emphasizes that creating opportunities is central to everything that NOCN does – whether this is through its main business of developing and awarding qualifications, or through the employment opportunities the organization offers to all. Originality/value – The paper highlights the advantages to individual employees as well as to the organization as a whole of a comprehensive diversity policy.