BUILT Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST) has announced it will host the first ever DIveIN conference focused on developing equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in businesses operating in the built environment sector.
Taking place at the City of Glasgow College on February 29, DIveIN is funded by Scottish Government and the Workplace Equality Fund.
With 7% of Scotland’s workforce identifying as an ethnic minority, BE-ST said it is vital that employers prioritise levelling racial inequalities and making improvements to workplace cultures to make them more inclusive and accessible.
The conference will provide an opportunity industry stakeholders to ask questions in a safe space and gain the knowledge to make ‘practical and actionable’ changes that will improve EDI within their organisations.
Attendees will hear from thought leaders, change makers and organisations with real life experiences, including Ollie Folayan, professor, engineer and speaker on inequality in the engineering sector and allyship, Aisha Jacki, gender and race equality activist and Amos Simbo, founder and MD of Winway Services and the BPIC Network for black and ethnic minority professionals in the construction and built environment.
There will also be a workshop and panel led by Radiant and Brighter – a community interest company focused on promoting diversity through education, inspiration and changing perceptions.
Kirsty Duncan, head of stakeholder engagement at BE-ST, said, “The DIveIN conference’ mission is to spark transformation within the built environment sector. We aim to inspire, educate, and empower industry professionals to meaningfully champion equality, diversity, and inclusion by creating a space for collaborative learning. By providing this platform for open dialogue and practical insights, we hope to help organisations to start on their D&I journeys and create tangible and lasting changes that will redefine the construction workplace, making it more accessible and welcoming for everyone.”
Pheona Matovu, co-founder of Radiant and Brighter, added, “Our ongoing collaboration with BE-ST on the DIveIN programme has been characterised by a commitment to promoting diversity in construction and the built environment through education and changing perceptions. The upcoming DIveIN conference feels like a notable milestone in the evolution of the programme as we aim to reach as many professionals working in the sector as possible. Without creating the opportunities for pragmatic conversations and insights, we will not be able to make the progress we want to see in building a more inclusive future in the built environment.”
To book a free ticket and find out more, visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/divein-conference-tickets-781230229647
