The Equality Act will become law in October 2010. It replaces previous legislation (such as the Race Relations Act 1976 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995) and ensures consistency in what employers need to do to make their workplace a fair environment and to comply with the law.

Stephen Smith, Chief Executive of EMB Ltd, the organisation responsible for delivering the Business Link service explains: "The Equality Act covers the same groups that were protected by previous equality legislation - age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership and pregnancy and maternity - but extends some protections to groups not previously covered, and also strengthens particular aspects of equality law."

Most of the Equality Act will become law on 1 October 2010. 

The Act brings together and replaces the previous discrimination legislation, but employers obligations remain largely the same. 

As a result, local businesses are being urged to update their existing policies and practices.