Request for information - Ref No: FOI241230
Request
We received your request on 25 March 2024.
We have handled your request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000.
A copy of your request is set out in the extract below:
“I’d like to request the following information as part of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
- Your diversity and inclusion policy for the incubator and wider community
- Information on your marketing plan with regards to finding applicants for the 2024 scheme and community as a whole.
- In particular I’d like information on the ways you promote Geotech and Proptech innovation to groups in the following categories:
- Women
- BAME communities
- LGBTQ+ communities
- Older people (over 50’s)
- Those located outside of the main investment areas of London, Oxford and Cambridge
- Finally I would like to see the anonymised data on how you have increased inclusion and diversity over the last 17 years of running the scheme.”
Our response
Taking each request in turn, I confirm the following:
1. Your diversity and inclusion policy for the incubator and wider community
I confirm that the requested information is not held.
Geovation does not have a separate diversity and inclusion policy.
However, under the duty to provide information and assistance in accordance with section 16 of FOIA, we can provide the following information which may assist you in this matter:
Geovation is an initiative run by OS Limited in association with HM Land Registry and as such is not a separate legal entity. Please view the OS website in relation to what diversity and inclusion means to OS here: Diversity and inclusion | Careers at OS (ordnancesurvey.co.uk)
2. Information on your marketing plan with regards to finding applicants for the 2024 scheme and community as a whole
Where you have referred to ‘scheme’ we understand your request to be asking for the Geovation marketing plan for the Accelerator programme.
I confirm that the requested information is not held.
However, under the duty to provide information and assistance in accordance with section 16 of FOIA, we can provide the following information which may assist you in this matter:
Applications for the Accelerator programme and information relating to the Geovation community is available on the Geovation and OS websites and OS social media channels. Information is found by the members / applicants predominantly by these channels.
3. In particular I’d like information on the ways you promote Geotech and Proptech innovation to groups in the following categories:
-
Women
-
BAME communities
-
LGBTQ+ communities
-
Older people (over 50’s)
-
Those located outside of the main investment areas of London, Oxford and Cambridge
I confirm the requested information is not held.
Geotech and Proptech innovation is not promoted specifically to the groups you have listed.
However, under the duty to provide information and assistance in accordance with section 16 of FOIA, we can provide the following information which may assist you in this matter:
In relation to your last bullet point, there is a network of partner hubs based in Cardiff, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds and Manchester that provide benefits to Geovation Community Members. Please see the Geovation website Partner Hubs | Geovation for further details.
4. Finally I would like to see the anonymised data on how you have increased inclusion and diversity over the last 17 years of running the scheme.
I confirm that the requested information is not held.
Advice and Assistance
Geovation would be happy to discuss any of the matters raised in your request further with you as we are keen to explore practical ways to address diversity and inclusion going forward, as such we will be in touch with you in due course.
Internal review
Your enquiry has been processed according to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000. If you are unhappy with our response, you may request an internal review with our Internal Review Officer by contacting them, within two months of receipt of our final response to your Freedom of Information (FOI) request, as follows:
Internal Review Officer
Customer Service Centre
Ordnance Survey
Adanac Drive
Southampton
SO16 0AS
Please include the reference number above. You may request an internal review where you believe Ordnance Survey has:
- Failed to respond to your request within the time limits (normally 20 working days)
- Failed to tell you whether or not we hold the information
- Failed to provide the information you have requested
- Failed to explain the reasons for refusing a request
- Failed to correctly apply an exemption or exception
The Internal Review Officer will not have been involved in the original decision. They will conduct an independent internal review and will inform you of the outcome of the review normally within 20 working days, but exceptionally within 40 working days, in line with the Information Commissioner’s guidance.
The Internal Review Officer will either: uphold the original decision, provide an additional explanation of the exemption/s applied or release further information, if it is considered appropriate to do so.
Appeal to Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
If you are still dissatisfied after our internal review, you can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). You should make complaints to the ICO within six weeks of receiving the outcome of an internal review. The easiest way to lodge a complaint is through the ICO website.