{"id":101332,"date":"2021-11-02T12:18:18","date_gmt":"2021-11-02T12:18:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/?p=101332"},"modified":"2021-11-02T12:18:18","modified_gmt":"2021-11-02T12:18:18","slug":"diversity-inclusion-construction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/hr-skills-news\/diversity-inclusion-construction\/101332\/","title":{"rendered":"Addressing inclusion, diversity & mental health in construction"},"content":{"rendered":"

Construction Helpline<\/a> talks about how businesses and organisations across the UK must come together to raise awareness about inclusion, diversity, and mental health in construction<\/h2>\n

The topic of diversity<\/a> and inclusion has been gaining a lot of momentum in recent months partly due to the Black Lives Matter and Me-Too movement, however, this is an issue that has been brewing for years and has now finally been brought to the spotlight.<\/p>\n

A 2018 study conducted by UK recruitment analytics company Hays<\/a> revealed that BAME people who managed to break into the construction sector, an astonishing 78% claimed they had experienced career restrictions due to their race or other demographic factors such as sexuality and age. This is a staggering statistic and is deeply upsetting that only now organisations are considering it.<\/p>\n

What is diversity and inclusion?<\/h3>\n

Diversity and inclusion is a movement that empowers people from a wide variety of people into business processes, it is a trend that has existed in the world for over 10 years, but in the world of construction, it is a new phenomenon.<\/p>\n

Every company must strive to create a culture in which every employee can be themselves and maximise their abilities. In an inclusive environment, employees are open-minded, free from prejudice, flexible and adaptive. What do Google, Facebook, Pinterest, and, for example, IKEA have in common? All these companies are considered the most progressive and successful because employees are supported and are guided by the principles of diversity and inclusion.<\/p>\n

What are the statistics telling us about diversity and inclusion<\/h3>\n

D&I culture is growing exponentially in almost all commercial sectors except construction, which is a big issue. Over the last few years research has been conducted into this issue, according to the ONS (Office of National Statistics), only 7.4% of BAME people in the UK account for the total workforce in construction, while women only make up 12.5%. These figures highlight the fact there is a significant inequality occurring within the construction sector and change needs to happen now.<\/p>\n

According to a 2017 Deloitte study, companies that embrace diversity are:<\/h4>\n