The ե֭ Industry Leadership Forum for Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR), has been established on the recommendation of the Employment & Human Rights Commission following two studies on diversity in construction. Its mission is to change practice in the industry.
Chaired by Judy Lowe, deputy chairman of CITB-ե֭Skills, the forum is made up of representatives from UK Contractors Group, the ե֭ Industry Council, the Chartered Institute of Building, the National Federation of Builders, Constructing Excellence, Constructing Equality, SMEs and SummitSkills.
An immediate priority, as identified by the forum at its inaugural meeting, is to provide clear and consistent information on Fairness, Inclusion and Respect for the industry so that everyone can access advice and examples of good practice. Improving retention of skilled female employees and those from ethnic minority groups is also a priority.
Ms Lowe said: “There is a great deal of excellent work already happening in the area but this forum can act as a central hub to drive change across the industry.”
She said that diversity was “no longer a luxury or a ‘nice to have’, it’s just sound business sense.”
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