Over 148 Construction companies apply to be on the CITB BE FaIR Framework pilot - CITB’s new industry-approved accredited framework for fairness, inclusion and respect in the workplace

The CITB BE FaIR (Built Environment Fairness, Inclusion and Respect) accreditation framework developed by CITB (The Construction Industry Training Board and sector skills council for construction) in partnership with  Constructing Equality Ltd, (The leading provider of construction-specific equality and diversity training and consultancy) supports the construction industry in addressing fairness, inclusion and respect.

Following a successful test of the first six strands in Summer 2012, CITB and Constructing Equality Ltd have received the interest of 148 companies to undertake the pilot, which runs from now until December 2013, of the Main Contractor and Sub-contractor strands and have just offered places to 110.

“Having a diverse workforce is beneficial to a company’s productivity, profitability and growth.  It is great to see the level of interest the framework has generated and the opportunities it presents for demonstrating business practise within the Industry. As an organisation we are committed to attracting and supporting the best workers to the construction industry, reflecting the diverse society we all live in.” – Matt Valentine-Pyle, CITB

The 110 companies range from small sub-contractors like Highwire Ltd, Macform Ltd and Cullins Ltd all the way up to large main contractors like Vinci plc., Wates Group, ISG plc. and Graham.

With 13 main contractors, largely drawn from UKCG members, and the declared support of this framework from the Industry Leadership Group for Fairness, Inclusion and Respect chaired by Judy Lowe, CITB Deputy Chair, this new approach to diversity, that sets a baseline of fairness for everyone, seems to be really hitting a key note with companies across the industry.

Graham, one of the test companies, is part of the pilot and has already identified that they are seeing improvements across their business, especially amongst their workforce on site, in morale, motivation and commitment to fairness, inclusion and respect for everyone.

Taking on the CITB BE FaIR framework enables companies to develop and progress as they move through accreditation levels from simply complying with the law at Level 1 right the way through to being a leading light for best practice in the sector at Level 4.

This (CITB BE FaIR) is a construction-specific accredited framework that has been designed to support the industry’s wide range of companies and organisations in addressing equality law and public sector equality duties through encouraging and developing fair practices in the workplace for all.

The CITB BE FaIR Framework is written in “strands” that segment the sector into its different types of organisations   and help identify and support the relevant challenges and needs.

Companies wishing to find out more about how they can adopt the BE FaIR framework should contact their CITB local office or the CITB website.