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Feb 5 2024

Constructing Rainbows - Loads of diversity data, women's PPE and DEI under attack

Inclusion update for the built environment and renewables industries
Newsletter 44: Loads of diversity data, women's PPE and DEI under attack
Constructing Rainbows advises built environment 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.
UK built environment diversity survey sees more women, but fewer ethnic minorities 
Supply Chain Sustainability School launched the results of their  2023 Diversity Survey 

With 537 companies sharing their data covering 526,000 employees, this is the biggest industry dataset, and has been running a few years now (and growing too!).

Looking at the data, the industry really needs to do better on disability, converting ethnic minority applicants to hires, and supporting SMEs in their D&I progress.

It would be great to see an industry wide database of minority owned businesses, something which a number of my clients have asked for, and would also help to improve the data for SMEs going forwards.
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46% of project professionals working in construction consider themselves to be neurodivergent, APM research reveals
The Association for Project Management has launched research into neurodiversity in the profession, with 46% project professionals working in construction considering themselves neurodiverse, compared to 31% across all sectors. A huge 96% neurodiverse construction professionals have informed their employer and 88% employers had made changes to the workplace or ways of working to accommodate for their neurodivergence.
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Key to filling labour shortage published by SBFM | FM Business Daily News

Soft service provider SBFM has today launched a new white paper, “Evolve: building a better future” to explore the FM industry’s continued struggle with recruitment and retention since Brexit and the Covid 19 pandemic.
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O’Rourke staff told to return full-time to the office | Construction Enquirer News
There is no research that shows a return to 5 day working week in the office will improve productivity, in fact quite the opposite if it has been mandated. Unhappy staff are not productive.
This policy change will also negatively impact women, carers and disabled people the most. 
Our industry wonders why it can't attract people in? Here is a fine example of why.
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Plans unveiled for first LGBTQ+ retirement home | Construction Enquirer News
Discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community happens throughout their lives, right through to retrirement. So great to see this first LGBTQ+ and allies retirement home being built in Manchester.
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Considerate Constructors Scheme to monitor provision of women’s PPE | Construction News
The Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) has added women’s personal protective equipment (PPE) to its contractor checklist. 
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New research finds more women entering construction sector than ever before
New research from volume housebuilder, Redrow, has revealed that the ‘boys only club’ perception is dwindling as 66% of young women participants already work in, have considered working in or are open to working in construction, up 17% from 2023.

But are we retaining them?
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White Rose shopping centre puts sanitary bins in men's toilets - BBC News

The White Rose centre adds bins after a request from a shopper affected by prostate cancer.
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Diversity policies face ‘full-out attack’ in 2024, leading HR boss warns
I have been asked if we are seeing this in the UK, and I'm sorry to say I have.
There are organisations that are rolling back some of their DEI work, either actively, by reducing the funding, or taking away power from affinity networks.
Organisational leaders would be wise to listen to their people, and also get a greater understanding of the business case which is very strong.
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Positive discrimination among top D&I issues UK businesses should focus on in 2024

Despite economic uncertainty and the continued cost of living crisis, getting right the top four issues relating to diversity and inclusion (D&I) for 2024 can empower businesses for success in the UK.
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Only 15 out of the 140 speakers at COP28 are women

The annual “family photo”, as it has been dubbed at the COP28 World Climate Action Summit, once again contains one glaring omission: women. 
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Reports — Open For Business
As I’ve shared previously there seems to be some nervousness in the business community about focusing on D&I, with some companies cutting resource.
Open For Business have just launched a new report - Investor Guide for LGBTQ+ inclusion, which provides another look at the business case for inclusion.
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3 Ways Men Can Advance Gender Equity at Work
Men tend to still hold organisational power and we need them to join in the effort toward gender equity. To do that, male organisational leaders need to acknowledge fear, address ignorance, and overcome apathy — and, just as importantly, they need to understand that it’s not about them. It’s about creating a workplace that works for everyone.
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