Inclusion update for the Built Environment industry
Newsletter 11: Merry Christmas, and here's hoping 2021 is an inclusive one!
Constructing Rainbows advises built environment organisations 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, both within the built environment and in other industries.
2020 didn't turn out how we expected it to, but the best of our industry showed how we can rally round and support each other through the tough times.
We're not through it yet, but if we are to build back stronger and greener, we have to continue our focus on attracting and retaining the best diverse talent. This has to be at the top of our agenda for 2021.
Big thanks to all my clients who have been amazing this year, continuing the drive for positive change (and helping me through Covid personally too!). Looking forward to working with you in the new year.
Charities have been financially impacted this year too, so for Christmas I have contributed to an amazing charity who have supported, and continue to support people through tough times.
The Government have launched The Construction Playbook with a greater focus on social value. From January 2021 the social value element of central government tender criteria will have to be a minimum of 10% of the scoring. Details of how departments should account for social value is detailed in PPN 06/20 which includes Covid-19 recovery, economic inequality, fighting climate change, equal opportunity and wellbeing.
My concern is even if you scored everything equally, that would be 2% for equal opportunity, which is not enough to drive change through our industry.
Should "fighting climate change" be included within the social value scoring, or should it have its own evaluation mechanism elevating it's importance?
To mark Carers Rights Day this year Working Families are giving away a free download of best practice ideas for employees with caring responsibilities. It is estimated that 1 in 7 in the workforce are carers of someone elderly, disabled or seriously ill. It’s vital to provide support to your employees with these types of caring responsibilities in order to retain them in your business and ensure their engagement, productivity, and wellbeing.
Really interesting move from Nasdaq to try and push through diversity on listed companies boards.
"the new listing rules would require all companies listed on Nasdaq’s U.S. exchange to publicly disclose consistent, transparent diversity statistics regarding their board of directors. Additionally, the rules would require most Nasdaq-listed companies to have, or explain why they do not have, at least two diverse directors, including one who self-identifies as female and one who self-identifies as either an underrepresented minority1 or LGBTQ+"
Could we see the FTSE follow suit? This could be a real game-changer.
"Show workers that they’re valued, and your business will flourish"
In all but the most toxic workplaces, building a respectful organization does not demand an overhaul of HR policies or any other formal changes. Rather, what’s needed is ongoing consideration of the subtle but important ways in which owed and earned respect can be conveyed.
