Luminate Education Group receives first Bronze award for Race Equality Charter pilot

Luminate Education Group has received the first Bronze award as part of a pilot to develop a new pathway for the Race Equality Charter (REC).

The accolade comes as the trial programme, for small and specialist higher education (HE) institutions and research institutes, concludes its initial two-year phase.

Recognising the efforts of Luminate Education Group members University Centre Leeds and Leeds Conservatoire, the award also takes place during the REC’s tenth anniversary year.

Recognition of a commitment to advance race equality

Head of the REC at Advance HE, Anne Mwangi, said:

“We are thrilled to be ending this pilot phase with our group’s first Bronze award.

“REC Bronze is recognition of an institution’s robust foundation for eliminating racial inequalities, developing inclusive cultures and moving from commitment to sustainable and integrated bold and ambitious action.

“Advance HE looks forward to supporting Luminate Education Group as it progresses its action plans to advance race equality, and celebrating all members of this cohort submitting in November 2025 and March 2026 as they receive their outcomes.”

An empowering chance to reflect – and act

Dr Jo Tyssen, Group Director of HE Quality and Standards at Leeds Conservatoire and University Centre Leeds, added:

“This Race Equality Charter application has been an ambition for a number of years and follows University Centre Leeds’ engagement with Advance HE as part of the REC SSRI Design Group in 2023.

“This then expanded to include Leeds Conservatoire, with University Centre Leeds, in the Race Equality Charter for small and specialist institutions and research institutes pilot.

“It has been a collaborative and empowering journey with Advance HE. We viewed it as a real opportunity for an honest self-assessment and a bold commitment to action, addressing the root causes of race inequality to drive meaningful change. 

“We are incredibly honoured by this achievement, and to be the first from the pilot (including college-based HE providers) to achieve REC Bronze is something we are so proud of.

“I cannot thank Advance HE enough for their support in working with members to provide this opportunity and for the recognition of the work that providers such as us contribute to race equity and the HE sector as a whole.”

The REC’s mission is to improve the representation, experience, progression and success of racially minoritised staff and students within higher education.

University Centre Leeds’ work includes both delivering higher education courses and training and supporting the work of Luminate Education Group’s further education (FE) colleges in Leeds, Harrogate and Keighley.

Leeds Conservatoire, meanwhile, provides a potential progression route for the group’s students who are on creative FE courses.