The senior level industry forum will be launched in summer 2010 and aims to provide a clear direction on equality and diversity issues within the construction industry. It will focus on leadership and governance, procurement, employment and skills, as well as co-ordinating work and monitoring progress.

The Commission’s Inquiry into Race and the Construction Industry published in July 2009, found that a negative image of the industry and poor recruitment practices contributed to low numbers of ethnic minorities entering the sector.

Nationally, the construction industry employs three million people - eight per cent of the entire workforce - with only three per cent being from an ethnic minority and around one per cent of the trades’ workforce being women (source: ConstructionSkills).

In response to the findings of the Inquiry, the Commission has put in place a programme of work aimed at increasing the number of employment and procurement opportunities for under-represented groups and diversifying the supply chain in procurement.

Key recommendations from the action plan include:

• The launch of the Construction Leadership Diversity Forum
• Linking with government initiatives such as Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme to promote wider procurement opportunities
• Monitoring data to identify areas of disproportionate impact, as well as improving the understanding of diversity monitoring within the industry.

Earlier research for the Commission (2008) also found that a high number of ethnic minority businesses needed capacity building in order to bid for contracts on an equal footing with established contractors. Procurement can be a major lever in driving forward equality but good equality and diversity practice has to be adhered to, to ensure equality outcomes are achieved.

The PQQ Equality Construction Forum was launch by the Commission in 2008, to develop a unified approach to equality in procurement for the Industry. The development of a new PQQ Industry Standard (PAS91) led by the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS), is now set for roll out in summer 2010, providing a landmark opportunity to standardise PQQs.

Simon Woolley, lead Commissioner on race for the Equality and Human Rights Commission said:

“The Commission's inquiry brought gender and racial issues into focus - we have been encouraged by the response from the construction industry and hope that this translates into fundamental change. The Construction Leadership Diversity Forum is an important business led initiative that will help the industry find solutions to long standing and persistent problems that have affected far too many. I strongly believe, with the present goodwill on all sides, that together we can make progress. I will be interested to see the progress made as part of this work programme.”

Niki Luscombe, Chief Executive of Women and Manual Trades welcomed the recommendations and said:

“The proposal to create a Construction Leadership Diversity Forum will finally pull together key players across the sector, in order to address under-representation of ethnic minorities, women and people with disabilities.”

Andy Walder, Director of the National Construction College and Construction Skills’ Equality and Diversity champion, said:

“Increasing equality and diversity within the construction industry is crucial to the future of the industry and I believe that the Construction Leadership Diversity Forum will provide the required direction to initiate a culture change within the sector.”

Julia Tyson, Group HR Director Wates Group Ltd and Chair - UKCG Diversity Steering Group said:

“The Commission has taken a responsible and enabling approach in bringing the construction sector together to address the issues identified in the inquiry".

Progress of the action plan will continue to be monitored by the Commission via the Construction Leadership Diversity Forum.