What is the Fairness, Inclusion & Respect Programme?

The Fairness, Inclusion & Respect (FIR) Programme is an industry-wide initiative that aims to change the culture of construction and make workplaces better for everyone.  

Created, delivered and developed by the Supply Chain Sustainability School, the FIR programme provides free, industry-endorsed training, resources and guidance which support businesses to become more innovative and welcoming by addressing workplace cultural challenges. This, in turn, helps attract and retain a wider, more diverse range of workers in the industry.

Anyone can access the programme’s free online resources – found in the FIR toolkit – and attend free training workshops. The construction industry is increasingly becoming more diverse, welcoming and inclusive – dispelling long-established myths and stereotypes. The FIR Programme plays a key role in the positive cultural shifts of the industry.  

Why the FIR Programme is important

The industry has made great progress in recent years when it comes to diversity, but there is still more to be done. Women make up nearly 16% of the current workforce, a figure that has risen over the last few years, and while more people from black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds are joining the construction industry, the total is still only at 6%. This is rather different to the national picture, where ethnic minorities represent 18.5% of the UK population, according to the Office for National Statistics. The majority of people working in construction are over 40, while those under 25 are a minority – however, by 2030, the number of young adults entering the overall workforce is expected to increase by 25%. So, there is a great opportunity here for the industry.

This is where initiatives like the FIR Programme are so vital – to encourage more young people, women and ethnic minorities to the industry, construction needs to be perceived as welcoming, respectful, fair and inclusive.

The FIR Programme not only increases awareness of the importance of these issues but also leads to improvements in behaviours in companies. This helps create a more welcoming environment for new entrants to the industry.

A 2021 review of the FIR Programme found that:

• 96% of participants rated the workshops and materials as excellent or good
• 92% rated the toolbox talks as excellent or good
• 89% feel empowered to deal with FIR issues more effectively
• 82% feel they now have the confidence to challenge poor behaviours

The FIR toolkit

The FIR toolkit is the home of the programme’s free resources, featuring e-learning modules, video toolbox talks, webinars, training courses and much more.

The toolkit has been developed by the construction industry for the construction industry. Many of the resources are designed to be delivered internally by managers or trainers to their employees. There are a series of video toolbox talks which are available to view if your company is registered with the Supply Chain Sustainability School.

If you would like your company to better embed the principles and business benefits of a fairer, more inclusive and respectful workplace, why not encourage your manager to make use of the FIR toolkit? There are interactive online, trainer-led workshop sessions which run throughout the year, bringing the FIR Programme to your desktop.

There’s also a selection of e-learning resources accessible to subscribers, including the benefits of flexible working, understanding invisible disabilities, managing challenging conversations, and a series of case studies.

Who is behind the Fairness, Inclusion & Respect Programme?

The FIR programme is delivered by the Supply Chain Sustainability School.

Supply Chain Sustainability School

The Supply Chain Sustainability School is an award-winning collaboration of over 125 industry partners, comprising construction companies, sector bodies, organisations and charities. The School provides free training and resources to help construction companies and suppliers become both more sustainable and more inclusive.

40% of the UK’s carbon footprint comes from the built environment – around half of which is from energy used in buildings, roads and railways. Part of the School’s key goal is to introduce more environmentally friendly measures into the supply chains of construction projects – and the training it has developed helps companies achieve this.

How diversity and sustainability go hand in hand

Sustainability and diversity and inclusivity are natural partners; construction is at the forefront of building a more sustainable world and achieving Net Zero, but to do this, the industry needs to ensure it is welcoming enough to attract the workers it requires.

Mental health and wellbeing

One of the FIR Programme’s priorities is to be an advocate for mental health and wellbeing.

People who work in construction may be more vulnerable to suffering from poor mental health. The work can be stressful, with long hours, and it can be mentally as well as physically demanding. The legacy of a largely male-dominated industry is apparent in what can be a ‘culture of silence’ and a stigma around mental health issues.

The industry is undertaking a series of major initiatives to support those in need. As well as the FIR programme, schemes such as “Starting the Conversation” and the Construction industry helpline encourage people to open up if they are struggling with their mental health.

The FIR Programme provides helpful resources around mental health and wellbeing, providing tips for maintaining good mental health, and how to spot the signs of mental ill-health.

The FIR Ambassadors Network

Do you work in the construction and built environment sector and want to take action to make your workplace better for everyone? If so, you could make an ideal FIR Ambassador.

FIR Ambassadors work to promote a culture of fairness, inclusion and respect within their workplace. They work closely within their organisation to promote the business benefits of FIR and challenge non-inclusive procedures and behaviours to positively impact workplace culture.

Anyone working in the industry in any role can become a FIR Ambassador; you can be employed at any level within your organisation. You should have the explicit support of more senior management to become an Ambassador, as well as be able to maintain positive relationships based on respect.  

The benefits of becoming a FIR Ambassador

FIR Ambassadors not only help improve the culture of their own workplace but for the construction industry as a whole. The advantages don’t end there, though – there are many personal and professional benefits to joining the FIR Ambassador network, including:

• Develop valuable knowledge through access to a range of FIR learning resources which will help expand your overall skillset
• Gain a sense of achievement from playing your role to create a more open, inclusive and respectful work environment
• Join a bustling FIR Ambassador network, sharing and collaborating on knowledge and best practice
• Raise your own profile at work and within the industry, boosting your CV with a valued extracurricular activity.