GRAHAM Construction has become one of the first firms to win a new industry award celebrating equality and diversity in the workplace.
CITB’s “Be Fair” Accreditation Framework is a new industry-specific equality standard providing a structure for employers to address fairness, inclusion and respect.
Piloted in 2013 at 100 firms, the accreditation is being awarded to companies who realise the business and commercial benefit of understanding and harnessing the diversity of the workforce, their customers and the culturally diverse environment in which they work.
GRAHAM became the first major construction firm in Scotland to receive the Be Fair Bronze level award after successfully participating in the programme. Among the firm’s achievements were engaging staff and subcontractors, assembling a team of champions, developing a manual for the management, and standardising processes across the business in Scotland. GRAHAM Construction is now striving to reach Silver level by 2015.
Michael Smyth, Head of Human Resources at GRAHAM Construction said, “GRAHAM has long been at the forefront of equality and diversity practice within the construction industry and we firmly believe that promoting equality in the workplace will be both beneficial to our staff and pivotal for our continued success.
“We are therefore tremendously proud to be the first large contractor in Scotland to achieve the Bronze level of the Be Fair framework, which has allowed us to benchmark our own activity to promote diversity against a national standard.”
Graeme Ogilvy, Scotland Director of CITB, said, “CITB is committed to promoting equality and diversity within the industry, an issue brought into even sharper focus following the introduction of the Equality Act in 2010.
“Be Fair aims to support companies which are committed to ensuring fairness, inclusion and respect exists within their workforce and organisation.
“This is the very first industry-specific equality framework, designed in consultation with the construction and built environment sector, which encourages businesses to adopt practices which will enable them to maximise the rewards of our rich and diverse economy.
“We are delighted to present GRAHAM Construction with a Bronze award which recognises the tremendous results they have enjoyed, such as engaging with and involving senior management, as well as a commitment to further improve and strive for the next level.”
