“delivering ………………… urban inclusive solutions”

1. PresentationHow do we increase ethnic minority employment ?Plenary ‘Apprenticeships & Employer’s“Has the business case for diversity worked for ethnic minorities and are employers doing enough?”4 February 2013 “delivering ………………… urban inclusive solutions”

2. Introduction • The status quo & key drivers • The UK construction sector • The EHRC Report (Aug 2009) • The business case • The challenge “delivering ………………… urban inclusive solutions”

3. Perspective: “………..be the change that you wish to see in the world………..” - Gandhi Hackney Vandal Patrol (Kingsmead) 1976 [Available on YouTube] “delivering ………………… urban inclusive solutions”

4. The Status Quo: “………..nothing personal, it’s just business………..” - UK Plc However, [re: public sector construction projects] • Is there a real and measurable commitment towards delivering the socio-economic agenda [training, jobs and/or local subcontracts?]; • How are such requirements enforced and/or measured prior to and during the life of a project or contract? • What of the ‘legacy’ of construction projects / major contracts / frameworks? • Positive Action [not] Discrimination – v– Affirmative Action………….?? “delivering ………………… urban inclusive solutions”

5. Key Drivers How do we increase ethnic minority employment? “Has the business case for diversity worked for ethnic minorities and are employers doing enough?” Construction Sector [Employers’ criteria]: • Size of the business • Ownership / management of the business • Knowledge, commitment and delivery of Equality & Diversity [definition?] • Keen commitment to ‘equality of opportunity’ - for all • Where workloads and profitability driven by market exposure [to public and/or private sectors]; does E&D become a ‘nice to have’ or remain corporate policy? “delivering ………………… urban inclusive solutions”

6. UK Construction How do we increase ethnic minority employment? “Has the business case for diversity worked for ethnic minorities and are employers doing enough?” Construction Sector [Statistics]: • An average annual ‘procurement’ spend of £105 billion [of which 40% is public sector] • Employs circa 3 million people [approx. 8% of the entire UK workforce] • Involves over 300,000 firms [many are micro businesses / SME’s] • Non-whites [i.e. BME] in UK construction is circa 3.3% [less than 100,000 individuals] • Business failure currently running above UK sector average; [peaking during 3Q2014] • Apprenticeships sharp decline in construction; ‘devastating’ drop of 15% since 2011 • Industry needs circa 30,000 new entrants per annum………..doable and with who? “delivering ………………… urban inclusive solutions”

7. EHRC Report How do we increase ethnic minority employment? “Has the business case for diversity worked for ethnic minorities and are employers doing enough?” Key findings ‘of the industry’ disclosed within the report issued in 2009……. • Non-white participants lack representation • High levels of rejection and exclusionary practices • Struggling to deliver real change with equality & diversity [both in recruitment & procurement] • Race Relations Act 2000 [the Race Equality Duty]; had no major impact • Ethnic minorities ‘prevented’ from getting jobs, due to a variety of ‘industry norms’ • A dire need to diversify supply chains [professions and trades]; promote monitoring • Consequence; ethnic minorities ‘were turned off’ from careers in construction “delivering ………………… urban inclusive solutions”

8. The Business Case How do we increase ethnic minority employment? “Has the business case for diversity worked for ethnic minorities and are employers doing enough?” Diversity not just a moral consideration, a ‘strong’ business case exists: Based on three strands: public procurement / skills requirements / legal compliance • Diversity is good for business: 54% of UK corporate members believe that there is a strong link between [supplier] diversity and new business development • 31% of corporate members believe it strongly supports client retention…..!! • Booming minority population, a growing market: ethnic minorities currently make up 12% of the British population and this is expected to double in the next 25 years Source: MSD UK “delivering ………………… urban inclusive solutions”

9. The Challenge How do we increase ethnic minority employment? “Has the business case for diversity worked for ethnic minorities and are employers doing enough?” Call for ‘innovative’ sector wide leadership: Based on three strands: public procurement / skills requirements / legal compliance • Promotion of traineeships [as promoted by Skills Minister, Matthew Hancock]; • Development of a national ‘apprentice’ database; with NAS / BISet al • Requirement for ALL businesses to sign upto and engage with an E&D scheme • Commitment from local authorities that ALL procurement opportunities be more transparent with annual ‘efficiency’ statements released for public scrutiny “delivering ………………… urban inclusive solutions”

10. References How do we increase ethnic minority employment? “Has the business case for diversity worked for ethnic minorities and are employers doing enough?” • http://www.cskills.org/supportbusiness/fairness-inclusion-and-respect/index.aspx • http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/research/ed_report_construction_sector.pdf • http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/legal-and-policy/inquiries-and-assessments/inquiry-into-race-in-the-construction-industry/construction-leadership-diversity-forum/ • http://www.bitc.org.uk/workplace/diversity_and_inclusion/race/race_for_opportunity.html “delivering ………………… urban inclusive solutions”

11. Contact How do we increase ethnic minority employment? “Has the business case for diversity worked for ethnic minorities and are employers doing enough?” Contact: Bola Abisogun (MRICS); (E): bola@urbanis.co.uk (T): #UrbanisCM “delivering ………………… urban inclusive solutions”