Employers value OU students for their diverse perspectives, as well as for their skills and qualities, and many aim to create more diverse workforces to include those perspectives. Some roles require people with specific characteristics and/or lived experiences. Below are some of the current roles from employers seeking to increase diversity or gain insights into a range of societal factors and individual characteristics. Please also take a look at our external events page which includes numerous events with a focus on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

Operations Engineer | BBC EXTEND | London | Apply by 6 May 2026

This role is advertised as part of our BBC Extend programme for disabled people. To apply for this role you should identify as deaf, disabled or neurodivergent and must meet either the definition of disability in the Equality Act (2010), or the definition of disability in the Disability Discrimination Act (1995) if applying in Northern Ireland. As a Senior Operations Engineer (SOE) you will be familiar with the W1 support arrangements, and proficient in supporting the production teams.

Support Group Co-facilitator (online) | Bipolar UK | Online/Remote | Apply by 31 Aug 2026

Our online co-facilitator role involves co-facilitating a regular in-person meeting in the community. You must have personal experience of bipolar, either as someone with the diagnosis or as someone who supports a loved one with the diagnosis. You will need excellent communication skills, including active listening, ideally you will have some basic IT (Office 365 and Zoom) and some previous experience of running groups.

Black Interns Program | Black Professionals UK | Glasgow | Apply by 27 Nov 2026

Breaking down the barriers often encountered by individuals from Black and other ethnic minority backgrounds when seeking opportunities within the UK workforce. The goal of the Black Intern Program is to ensure that individuals from all ethnic minority backgrounds, not just Black talent, have fair and equal access to career opportunities. By doing so, we aim to unlock potential, promote inclusion, and contribute to a stronger and more representative workforce across the country.