Diversity and Equal Opportunities

Vision

ConstructionSkills’ vision is to be “the leading training organization for the UK construction industry”. This Diversity and Equal Opportunities Policy is designed to underpin and reinforce this aim.

We recognise the real training and business benefits of having learners and employees from diverse backgrounds. ConstructionSkills is committed to creating a culture in which diversity and equal opportunities are actively promoted, and in which unlawful or unfair discrimination by act or inference is not tolerated. We believe the goals and values set out in our Business Plan will best be achieved if we recruit learners and employees at all levels of responsibility to reflect the multi-cultural communities we serve and work within. Achieving our vision will also be enabled by fully using the talents and resources of all our staff.

Diversity and Equal Opportunities

Diversity refers to the broad range of visible and non-visible differences that characterise people. Some of these qualities include gender, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, religion/belief, age, marital status, sexual orientation, political belief, disability, and irrelevant offending background. Equal opportunities refer to the elimination of unlawful and unfair discrimination against any group, e.g. people from ethnic minorities, women and people with disabilities.

By understanding, respecting and embracing difference, we can maximise our success, and deliver our Sector Skills Agreement, helping to create “a fully skilled and professional UK construction industry working safely and delivering value”.

Policy Statement

ConstructionSkills Diversity and Equal Opportunities Policy aims to ensure that no learner, employee, applicant for employment, customer or those contracted to work at or for ConstructionSkills receives less favourable treatment than any other on the grounds of gender, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, religion/belief, age, marital status, sexual orientation, family care responsibilities, political belief, disability, or irrelevant offending background. Furthermore, no learner, employee, applicant for employment, customer or those contracted to work at or for ConstructionSkills should be disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justified.

Scope of the Policy

This policy applies to all learners, employees, applicants for employment, customers and to those contracted to work at or for ConstructionSkills.

Aims of the Policy and Underpinning Principles

The aim of this policy is to ensure that in carrying out its activities ConstructionSkills will have due regard to:

  • Promoting equality of opportunity, across all the activities and functions

  • Promoting good relations between people of a diverse background

  • Eliminating unlawful discrimination

This policy is guided by the following principles, that:

  • Learners and employees should reflect the qualified resource from which they are drawn

  • All learners and employees have learning and working environments that are accessible, comfortable and conducive to learning and working

  • All learners, employees and customers should enjoy a safe environment free from discrimination, harassment, bullying and unfair treatment

  • All learners, employees and customers should have equal access to services that are made available by ConstructionSkills and its contractors

  • All employees should have equal access to opportunities for personal and professional development, career progression and promotion opportunities

  • Positive action initiatives have an important role to play in addressing under -representation and we will adopt such initiatives where appropriate

  • All learners, employees, customers and relevant stakeholders have the right to be consulted about ConstructionSkills equality and diversity policies, procedures, and practices and are encouraged to contribute to the decision making processes

  • ConstructionSkills has a grievance procedure for learners, employees and customers which will apply to any contravention of this policy

This policy will be made available to all learners, employees, customers and to those contracted to work at or for ConstructionSkills. It will be referred to in all relevant documents such as advertisements and recruitment literature. In addition, ConstructionSkills will ensure that all applicants for employment and training are made aware of this policy. This policy will also be made available to the communities we serve.

To ensure the continued relevance and effectiveness this Policy, both its content and implementation will be reviewed in September of each year by the Corporate Services Director. As a matter of best practice, we will also seek the advice of the Equality and Human Rights Commission when reviewing this policy.

Mark Farrar

Chief Executive

1 October 2009