Equal Opportunities

ConstructionSkills is committed to equal opportunities in its employment and development of staff, as well as in its services to clients including employers and trainees.

This statement aims to ensure that no applicant for employment, training scheme or existing employee or trainee or client shall receive less favourable treatment than any other on the grounds of

  • sex
  • race
  • colour
  • nationality
  • ethnic origin
  • religion
  • age
  • marital status
  • sexuality
  • political belief
  • disability, or
  • irrelevant offending background.

Furthermore, no job applicant, employee, trainee or client will be disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justified.

This statement will be communicated to all staff, and will be referred to in all relevant documents such as advertisements and recruitment literature. In addition, ConstructionSkills will ensure that all applicants for all posts and training schemes are made aware of this statement. It will also be made available to the community to suppliers of goods and services for ConstructionSkills and to all the staff they employ.

To ensure the continued relevance and effectiveness of this statement, both the content and implementation will be reviewed annually.

Image and recruitment diversity targets

The Image & Recruitment approach for diversity is to focus on engaging employers in the business case for diversity, as well as on widening participation in education and training. We work with a range of national and local partners aimed at supporting employers in the improvement of their recruitment practices.

Here’s some of the ways we do this:

  • Apprenticeships
    Our own Apprenticeship directorate has targets for ethnic minorities and women aged 16-25.
  • STEP into Construction
    This project supports employers in the recruitment of Black and Asian people and women who are ‘job ready’. This can include employer support for a six week work trial on the basis that they guarantee an interview for the young person at the end. The employer recruits on merit alone.

    STEP can also support associated costs such as short-term childcare. Area Offices can identify local colleges, universities and community organisations to help you get the right candidates.

    We are particularly interested in developing a tailor-made package of support for major contractors or clients who are prepared to support their sub-contractors in increasing their diverse workforce.
  • Construction Youth Trust  www.constructionyouth.org.uk
    Construction Youth Trust is a UK-wide charitable trust which aims to support young people, under the age of 30, into the construction industry. A key strand of their work is to encourage women and ethnic minorities, facing financial barriers, into the sector. Assistance is available for applicants undertaking construction related training or study at craft, technician or degree level. Bursaries can cover the cost of course fees, travel costs or special purpose equipment. In some cases bursaries are given in partnership with major construction companies - such as BAA and Costain.
    The Construction Youth Trust has recently entered into a partnership with ConstructionSkills, in particular with respect to supporting the number of women and ethnic minorities who enter the construction workforce
  • National Construction College
    All apprentices attend Diversity and Equality Awareness workshops and all female trainees are mentored throughout their programme.

    The National Construction College is developing diversity modules to include in its management and supervision courses.
  • Positive Image campaign
    A diverse range of role models is featured in our award-winning Positive Image campaign and in careers resources, such as the Guides, Go For It Pack, a resource for guide leaders which introduces girls aged 10-14 to a wide range of construction careers.
  • Positive Action activities
    100 Positive Action activities aimed at ethnic minorities and women are planned across the UK. These range from taster events and school careers activities to NET support for college students. These are collaborations between ConstructionSkills Education Managers, and local schools, colleges and community centres.
  • Construction ambassadors
    Targets  for women and ethnic minorities to train as Construction Ambassadors.
  • Strategic alliances
    ConstructionSkills believes that Government Departments and key agencies need to be working together on a co-ordinated approach to industry recruitment. Greater focus needs to be given to making the business benefit case to industry for taking on non-traditional entrants. There needs to be accountability for ensuring that this focus makes a real difference to industry recruitment practices. For example, positive action for ethnic minorities and women students seeking work experience and jobs should be of equal weight to the Widening Participation agenda for further and higher education. Taster programmes for women into construction should be judged on their ability to engage industry, and get their female students into construction jobs.

UKRC Charter

ConstructionSkills in Scotland has signed up to the UKRC’s CEO Charter to demonstrate a visible commitment to women working in science, engineering and technology (SET) and the built environment.

This is in recognition of our work to:

  • develop and communicate the business case for gender equality within our organisation, supply chain and wider networks

  • develop clearly defined strategies and implement practices which encourage women to enter and progress in, or return to SET careers