This section looks at equality from the perspective of service providers. It explains what is meant by ‘service providers’ and outlines their areas of responsibility. It also indicates some of the things that service providers can do to promote equality of opportunity and to tackle discrimination.
This section looks at the subject from the provider’s perspective. Follow this link to find out more about the service user’s point of view Rights in action: Shops and services.
For information on your responsibilities to service users beyond equality and human rights (for instance, more general consumer rights), visit the Government’s Business Link website.
It is unlawful to discriminate in providing goods, facilities or services to the public on the grounds of sex, race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, and religion or belief.
Discrimination in providing services means:
• refusing to provide a service
• providing a lower standard of service or
• offering a service on different terms than you would to other people.
There is no legislation that makes it unlawful to discriminate on the grounds of age when providing services: for example, a pub can choose to refuse service to people under 21.
As a service provider, having good equality practices will help make your services available to the widest possible range of customers. Improvements such as better lighting and clear signs benefit everyone.
Understanding this aim and the consequences of these laws will help protect you from legal action, which can be expensive and damaging to your reputation.
In this section
What is the definition of a service provider?
Areas of responsibility
What the law says
How to tackle discrimination and promote equality