Companies House

Equality Act 2010

Key Legislation

The Equality Act 2010 received Royal Assent after completing its parliamentary process. The Act replaces the previous anti-discrimination laws with a single Act. It has simplified the law, making it easier for people to understand and comply with it. The Act strengthens the law in important ways to help tackle discrimination and inequality.

What has changed?

The Equality Act 2010 replaces the three previous public sector equality duties for race, disability and gender. The new equality duties cover the following protected characteristics:

• Age
• Disability
• Gender reassignment
• Marriage and Civil partnership
• Pregnancy and Maternity
• Race – this includes ethnic origins, colour or nationality
• Religion or belief – this includes lack of belief
• Sex
• Sexual orientation

The Equality Act 2010 has two main purposes - to harmonize discrimination law and to strengthen the law to progress on equality.

The statutory general duties state that, in carrying out Companies House public functions, due regard should be paid to:

• Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimization and other conduct prohibited by the Act.
• Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.
• Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not.

These are referred to as the three aims or arms of the general equality duty. The Act helpfully explains that having due regard for advancing equality involves:

• Removing or minimising disadvantages suffered by people due to their protected characteristics.
• Taking steps to meet the needs of people from protected groups where these are different from the needs of other people.
• Encouraging people from protected groups to participate in public life or in other activities where their participation is disproportionately low.

Equality Act 2010 (PDF 730KB)