Equality, diversity and inclusion
The five-year strategy and 20 point plan

Katie Holt, Development Officer  

Katie Holt on the work CICES has embarked on within EDI

CICES has recognised that as a professional institution it needs to do more to develop as a diverse membership organisation and to influence the wider construction industry to value and promote equality, diversity and inclusion.

An Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Council was set up in 2018. This resulted in an EDI policy which was published in February 2019. Since then we have started implementing training for committee members and have introduced EDI moments into meetings.

As members will be aware we have now launched a new 30-year strategy supported by a five-year corporate plan. EDI is included in this as a golden thread that runs throughout the main strategy.

In order to ensure that in addressing EDI the institution remains focused, we have now also developed a five-year EDI strategic plan, which incorporates a 20 point action plan that will be continually monitored and updated to ensure we are achieving what we plan to. The focus for the first five years will be on educating and supporting challenge.

The EDI strategy

Vision

That every member of CICES is welcomed, respected and valued for the diversity they bring.

Mission

To inspire and educate every member of CICES to be able to value and confidently promote equality, diversity and inclusion within the institution, their workplace and across the construction industry.

Values

In delivering the strategy we will reflect the values of the institution which are to be:

• Professional.
• Integrity and honesty.
• An inclusive community.
• Curious and brave.

Behaviours

In delivering the strategy members will be encouraged to:

• Constructively challenge poor practice and behaviours.
• Support others who are impacted.
• Celebrate where EDI is recognised.
• Educate where others want to understand.

Strategic objectives for 2021 to 2026

Our vision is that every member of CICES is welcomed, respected and valued for the diversity they bring.

Through the strategy we encourage members to be champions for EDI and enable them to bring about change across the construction industry. The four themes will seek to:

1.  Increase the visibility of the benefits of EDI and ways in which to knock down barriers preventing equality, diversity and inclusion.
2.  Build knowledge so that everyone understands the benefits of EDI and is confident to promote the benefits and challenge the unacceptable.
3.  Promote behaviours which are implicit within a culture that values diversity and promotes equality and inclusion.
4.  Provide the tools so that every member of CICES can confidently support EDI.

The 20 point action plan

The 20 point plan was agreed in June 2021 and the EDI Council is now working towards these targets. Some of the ongoing activities include:

• EDI moments are included in meetings and across regions.
• All regions have EDI reps.
• General competencies are being altered to reflect the EDI policy.
• Training will be given to examiners and the revised competencies will be rolled out in 2022. 
• All members will need to ensure they carry out EDI training and this should be reflected in CPD records.
• Fellow attributes will be altered to include EDI.
• An EDI Lookout is included in each copy of the journal with a list of dates relating to EDI to look out for.

The 20 point plan. 

Katie Holt, Development Officer

kholt@cices.org