Aug 18 2025

Constructing Rainbows - Purple pound, legislation updates and football

Inclusion update for the built environment and renewables industries
Newsletter 58: Purple pound, legislation updates and football
Constructing Rainbows advises built environment, facilities management and renewables organisations across the globe who have an aim of making our industry inclusive for all. To find out more visit www.constructingrainbows.co.uk
This newsletter will provide you with some updates on what others are doing, within the built environment, renewables and in other industries.
It has been a busy couple of months for us - we've had Pride Month activities, industry roundtables and conferences. 

We have also had some good news - Sharon was celebrated as one of The Workplace Leaders Top 50, and has also been elected Non-Executive Director at the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM).

We've also has the summer holidays, quality time with our families - and Sharon saw the Lionesses win the Euros in Switzerland. But we're back now and raring to go...
Purple pounds: Designing for the deaf and disabled
Disability urban strategist Amanprit Arnold speaks about the growing role of technology in improving accessibility and her vision for a Deaf City Hub in London
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How committed is the construction sector to improving LGBTQ+ inclusion and visibility?

The most important way companies can support their LGBTQ+ employees is by embedding inclusion in their company culture all year round.
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Equity, diversity and inclusion and social value isn't just the right thing to do, it also has clear commercial advantages when done properly.

In this Property Council of Australia article we hear from representatives of JLL, CBRE, EY, Ratio Consultants and Schiavello Construction about where they have experienced commercial advantage in the built environment sector.
Where should we go now?  

Following the recent Supreme Court Ruling on the definition of ‘woman’ and ahead of final guidance from the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (ECHR) on its practical implications IWFM backs the Sport England approach to the provision of safe, inclusive and accessible all-gender facilities. 
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She Built That 2025
So some of you may have guessed that I’m a huge LEGO fan (see company logo for an example). They’re doing a campaign to make “building” more gender inclusive - which is exactly what we are also trying to do!

If Lego can encourage more girls to build, then perhaps it will encourage more women to come into our industry too! 
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There’s a court case happening in the US that everyone who uses AI for recruiting decisions should be keeping their eye on. 

In the case of Mobley v Workday it’s alleged that the algorithms of the AI system discriminate against applicants over 40. 

The judge has reconfirmed that the employer remains responsible for discrimination in the hiring system and needs to ensure the checks are in place to eliminate bias. 

When using AI human oversight should remain, and within the procurement process liabilities for discrimination are considered. 

AI can be a wonderful tool, but it’s only as good as the information it’s fed, and that information can be biased. 
Spectators found to have biased view of women’s football
The Lionesses have done it again! 

With all the misogynistic and racist abuse they have received, I thought it worth sharing this research on gender bias in football viewing. 

The research shows that when the footballers were blurred out, the ratings given to the play were equal for men and women. When they weren’t, the men rated the women lower.  
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Entrepreneur ‘humiliated’ after London Tech Week turns her and baby away
There’s a problem with the lack of women in tech, there’s a problem with the lack of women entrepreneurs. And here is an example of why. Davina Schonle ended up having to cancel key meetings because of the actions of people at London Tech Week .

To be clear, trying to balance motherhood with work is difficult. Ensuring your baby is fed and kept alive, at the same time as developing a startup must be extremely difficult. She could have been supported in this, they could have provided baby feeding rooms, instead they chose the exclusion option. 

I hope they learn from this for next years event. 
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Employee volunteering
Volunteering is great for improving mental health. 

Many companies understand the benefits of volunteering, not only to achieve ESG targets, but because it can help tackle employee burnout, re-engage employees and boost performance. That is why they offer some paid volunteering days. Not all of these are used though, and so the full benefits are not realised. 

This new report from the Royal Voluntary Service demonstrates the missed opportunities, and the challenges that companies are facing when trying to use volunteering days.

So as a shout out to the third sector - this could be a great opportunity for volunteers if you can find the right offer.
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Boosting British jobs and skills key for firms to win major infrastructure projects - GOV.UK
Ignoring the 7 times they use the word "British", this sounds like excellent news from the Cabinet Office to encourage the supply chain of major infrastructure projects to focus more on entry-level skills. This would make it a mandatory requirement and will have a positive impact on local communities, and the industry as we suffer from a skills shortage. 

It mentions a focus on care-leavers, but we do hope they broaden their mandatory requirements to consider all diverse characteristics in their apprenticeship/ T-level offerings.
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Ban on controversial NDAs silencing abuse - GOV.UK
This is a really positive step. Too many people have been asked to sign NDAs by their employers as part of a response to harassment or discrimination. 

We see this with organisations that externally claim to be inclusive whilst using NDAs to silence victims of discrimination. 

The new legislation aims to stop this happening.
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Employment Rights Bill to increase bereavement leave for families who face pregnancy loss - GOV.UK
Another forward step in the Employment Rights Bill is protected bereavement leave for those dealing with pregnancy loss under 24 weeks. 

This will give workers time to grieve their loss rather than being rushed back to work. 
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This case has highlighted that non-verbal expressions of frustration can amount to disability discrimination as it contributed to a degrading and humiliating working environment.
Study Finds 60 Years of Gender Stereotypes in Kids’ TV
We know gender stereotyping starts from a young age, and this new research highlights how it is ingrained in US children’s TV as men/ boys are cast as doers and women/girls the done-tos. 

Sadly in looking at programmes over the last 60 years, there has been little change in the way that girls and boys have been portrayed. 

If we want to really change the dial, we have to change it from childhood. 
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