Charities will be studying the powerful new anti-discrimination bill before parliament.

This seeks to replace the 100 + acts, codes and directives currently in force on the six main areas of discrimination – for race or nationality, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age and faith.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is planning to require large companies and public bodies to carry out an “equality audit” of staff in the six “disadvantaged” sectors of their workforces. On this would be based a published EHRC ranking of the organisation, which those considering working for them, or doing business with them could consider.