http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/56Equality Act 2010An Act to make provision to require Ministers of the Crown and others when making strategic decisions about the exercise of their functions to have regard to the desirability of reducing socio-economic inequalities; to reform and harmonise equality law and restate the greater part of the enactments relating to discrimination and harassment related to certain personal characteristics; to enable certain employers to be required to publish information about the differences in pay between male and female employees; to prohibit victimisation in certain circumstances; to require the exercise of certain functions to be with regard to the need to eliminate discrimination and other prohibited conduct; to enable duties to be imposed in relation to the exercise of public procurement functions; to increase equality of opportunity; to amend the law relating to rights and responsibilities in family relationships; and for connected purposes.texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-07-22Expert Participation2026-07-15 Equality Act 2010s. 40(1A)-(1C)Employment Rights Act 2025s. 21s. 159(3)Equality Act 2010s. 40BEmployment Rights Act 2025s. 22(2)s. 159(3)Equality Act 2010s. 208(5)(aa)Employment Rights Act 2025s. 22(3)s. 159(3)Equality Act 2010s. 78(3A)(3B)Employment Rights Act 2025s. 34(2)s. 159(3)Equality Act 2010s. 153(1A)(1B)Employment Rights Act 2025s. 34(3)s. 159(3)Equality Act 2010s. 154(3A)(3B)Employment Rights Act 2025s. 34(4)s. 159(3) Part 5Chapter 1561This section applies for the purposes of section 55.2The provision of an employment service includes—athe provision of vocational training;bthe provision of vocational guidance;cmaking arrangements for the provision of vocational training or vocational guidance;dthe provision of a service for finding employment for persons;ethe provision of a service for supplying employers with persons to do work;fthe provision of a service in pursuance of arrangements made under section 2 of the Employment and Training Act 1973 (functions of the Secretary of State relating to employment);gthe provision of a service in pursuance of arrangements made or a direction given under section 10 of that Act (careers services);hthe exercise of a function in pursuance of arrangements made under section 2(3) of the Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Act 1990 (functions of Scottish Enterprise, etc. relating to employment);ian assessment related to the conferment of a relevant qualification within the meaning of section 53 above (except in so far as the assessment is by the qualifications body which confers the qualification).3This section does not apply in relation to training or guidance in so far as it is training or guidance in relation to which another provision of this Part applies.4This section does not apply in relation to training or guidance for pupils of a school to which section 85 applies in so far as it is training or guidance to which the responsible body of the school has power to afford access (whether as the responsible body of that school or as the responsible body of any other school at which the training or guidance is provided).5This section does not apply in relation to training or guidance for students of an institution to which section 91 applies in so far as it is training or guidance to which the governing body of the institution has power to afford access.6“Vocational training” means—atraining for employment, orbwork experience (including work experience the duration of which is not agreed until after it begins).7A reference to the provision of a vocational service is a reference to the provision of an employment service within subsection (2)(a) to (d) (or an employment service within subsection (2)(f) or (g) in so far as it is also an employment service within subsection (2)(a) to (d)); and for that purpose—athe references to an employment service within subsection (2)(a) do not include a reference to vocational training within the meaning given by subsection (6)(b), andbthe references to an employment service within subsection (2)(d) also include a reference to a service for assisting persons to retain employment.8A reference to training includes a reference to facilities for training.Pt. 5 applied (1.8.2011) by the Equality Act 2010 (Work on Ships and Hovercraft) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/1771), regs. 3-5Pt. 5 excluded (coming into force in accordance with reg. 2(1) of the commencing S.I.) by Wales Act 2017 (c. 4), s. 71(4), Sch. 5 para. 5(4) (with Sch. 7 paras. 1, 6); S.I. 2017/351, reg. 2(2) [Editorial note: S.I. 2017/1282 was made under 2017 c. 4, Sch. 5 para. 7(1) and comes into force on 12.12.2017]Pt. 5 restricted (S.) (29.5.2020) by Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018 (asp 4), ss. 11(2), 13; S.S.I. 2020/119, reg. 2Pt. 5 excluded by 2005 c. 4, s. 27(5A)(b) (as inserted (15.7.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 13 para. 9; S.I. 2013/1725, art. 2(g))Pt. 5 excluded by 2005 c. 4, s. 63(4) (as inserted (15.7.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 13 para. 10(3); S.I. 2013/1725, art. 2(g))