The business case for a commitment to an inclusive, accessible and representative built environment sector is as strong as ever, and continues to be vital if we are to ensure that the industry is financially viable in the long term.

After CIOB and eight other leading professional bodies last year renewed our collective commitment to promoting a welcoming and diverse built environment sector for the benefit of all, we’ve now launched a new five-year EDI Action Plan that sets out our shared objectives, and details the actions that will aim to achieve them. 

With a combined membership of over 400,000 professionals, the institutes that have committed to driving culture change across the sector are: The Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT), Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES), Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT), Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), Landscape Institute (LI), Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), and Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).

At the time of signing, Dr Victoria Hills, now CEO of the CIOB, said: “Re-signing the MoU sends a clear message: our dedication to equity, diversity, and inclusion remains unwavering. We’ve achieved a great deal over the past three years, but by continuing to collaborate, we can build on that momentum and go further, faster.”

Key workstreams

The action plan announced this month has three key workstreams:

• A continued focus on data collection and analysis recognising the need for a comprehensive, reliable and consistent profile of the professions to inform our actions and allow us to monitor the impact of our activities
• A look at the recruitment pipeline, helping to addressing the skills gaps and promoting a representative workforce by addressing barriers to employment in the sector 
• And finally, a set of actions on workplace culture and behaviour to ensure high professional standards and promote the retention of under-represented groups, driving a positive culture for the benefit of all professionals working within the built environment.

In respect of these important themes, we will be exploring how we can deliver a number of specific initiatives that will help us ensure the sector is accessible and welcoming to all. 

The initiatives being scoped include:

• A joint campaign to encourage members to share their ‘diversity’ data - really important if we are to understand exactly where the under-representation is and tailor our resources accordingly
• Working with our contacts in Higher Education and employers in the sector to explore the possibilities of offering extended placements for unrepresented students to give them ‘work-ready’ experience and skills
• Providing guidance to employers to ensure a consistent approach to supporting colleagues returning to the industry after a period away from employment 
• Promoting inclusive workplace culture for all and exploring the possibility of a joint campaign to address and reduce problematic behaviour in the workplace that undermines retention rates

Addressing these issues will benefit the sector and create a positive movement to resolve ongoing people shortages and skills gaps, and secure long-term industry success.

As you will see in the Action Plan linked below, there’s much work to be done, but by working together we can help to make the sector more welcoming, accessible and representative. 

Watch this space for updates on progress against the Action Plan over its five-year lifespan. 

Read the Action Plan