Firms making industry more diverse

Nine construction companies from across the North West were among the first in the country to be rewarded for their commitment to fairness, inclusion and respect in the construction workforce.

The companies were all awarded the new Be Fair accreditation by the Construction Industry Training Board. The seven companies were:

• Highwire, Droylsden
• ISG, Salford
• Cull Dry Lining & Plastering, West Derby
• Sovini Property Services, Bootle
• Mac Roofing & Contracting, Bromborough
• Holloway Cook Associates, Liverpool
• Penny Lane Builders, Liverpool
• Walter Carefoot & Sons, Preston
• Southport Gate, Southport

The Be Fair Framework is being developed by the industry, for the industry, to create more inclusive working environments which support individuals and companies across construction and the built environment sector.

The framework aims to address negative cultures and practices to create a fair, inclusive and respectful industry for everyone.

Anita Cull-Roy from Cull Dry Lining & Plastering said: "We're committed to promoting fairness and inclusion in the workplace so that our employees and others working in construction feel welcome and respected."

Kate Lloyd, fairness, inclusion and respect manager at CITB, said: "Support from organisations like Cull Dry Lining & Plastering is what we need to help address the industry's lingering image problem, change negative cultures and improve its diversity credentials. Construction still has an image problem and is traditionally seen as a 'job for the boys'.

"Women have made up only 12% of the industry for the last decade and with confidence in construction growing, we need 182,000 qualified construction workers in the next five years to meet the skills demand. We also need to ensure the working environment across the industry is supportive so these workers stay in the construction industry so we can benefit from their knowledge, experiences and skills.

"That's why we need to attract and retain the best and brightest talent to our industry regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation and background.

"CITB is taking action by introducing the Be Fair framework to help create more inclusive working environments, both in offices and on sites, to ensure that all workers are treated fairly and with respect."

• For more information on the Be Fair Framework, visit www.citb.co.uk