Jobs reforms: construction employers urged to become more inclusive

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Key industry bodies have urged the construction industry to grasp opportunities to become more inclusive and keep people in work longer.

Following prime minister Keir Starmer’s launch of reforms to support people back into work, sector bodies urged companies to take advantage of initiatives to attract and hold on to a diverse range of talent.

Starmer said on Tuesday (26 November) that the government planned to help people who “for too long haven’t been getting the support they need to get back to work”.

This includes reforming Jobcentres, boosting mental health support and commissioning an independent review of how companies can be aided to employ people with disabilities and health conditions.

Inform and enable

Deborah Madden, executive director, nations engagement, at skills body the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), said the sector had “numerous challenges” in attracting a diverse workforce.

But she added: “CITB works with the Supply Chain Sustainability School to provide free-to-access training guidance and support on diversity across the entire sector, and that programme has a great take-up, with all sizes of companies accessing that support.”

Madden said one of three pillars in the skills body’s latest business plan was to inform and enable diverse and talented people into construction.

“We’ve also invested £267m to help the industry improve diversity, quality and productivity,” she added. “For example, our Industry Impact Fund – which supports employers in areas like equality, diversion and inclusion; recruitment; and retention – helps employers to design and test new solutions to address a variety of challenges facing the industry.

“We recognise the need for the industry to recruit those from under-represented groups, primarily when related to sexuality, ethnicity, age and disability, and we are supporting the industry to address this to ensure it becomes more inclusive.”

Sustainable careers

Sarah Bolton, chief executive of the construction sector support initiative Lighthouse Charity, said it was critical for the industry to reach out beyond its traditional boundaries.

“We need to offer opportunities to those who may not have considered a career in construction or to those that may be facing societal discrimination,” she said.

“Encouraging people to start a conversation about any issues they may be facing is fundamental in helping to reduce the stigma around poor mental wellbeing. … Read More