Built By Us | Looking back at 2019, looking forward to 2020
We’ve spent 2019 developing and delivering more services including, strategic support around EDI, training and talent services. We’ve won awards and continued to increase the social impact on our industry. We cannot wait for 2020, here’s a look back at what we’ve been up to this year.
Our work is themed around three core activities:
Performance - supporting forward-thinking organisations on their journey to greater inclusion
Advocacy - speaking out
People - supporting diverse individuals to thrive in the construction sector
Performance | How we help - developing our services
It’s been a delight to work with organisations who are passionate about making diversity and inclusion tangible for their businesses. We have continued to develop new ways to support businesses to achieve their D&I and staff development aspirations by adding CPD workshops ensuring staff retention and engagement. Watch this space on how we will be expanding our offer to organisations on attracting a wider talent pool through new talent and recruitment services. More to come soon!
Advocacy | Speaking Out
“The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.”
― Coco Chanel
It has been an incredible year for discussion, debate and most importantly action on diversity and inclusion for the construction sector. We were delighted to take part in many fantastic events designed to support, inform and encourage debate. Watch out for news on new events for 2020 including the Built By Us Spring and Summer Socials, more from Start-Up Stories (for budding and new entrepreneurs) and an International Conference - all coming soon!
Founder Danna Walker was delighted to be part of AECOM’s most popular podcast series Talking Infrastructure - listen here.
People | Social Impact
We won an award from Unltd’s Thrive Programme, which will help us to drive greater social impact in 2020 and were humbled to win the National Mentoring Awards for our Diversity Mentoring Programme, FLUID.
The FLUID programme has continued to go from strength to strength with a new cohort now recruited for 2020. Applications for the 2021 cohort will open next Summer if you know anyone interested in taking part do ask them to sign up to the newsletter for the latest updates. Check out our case study stories for personal accounts from programme participants on how FLUID has made a difference for them.
“EPR are proud sponsors of the FLUID diversity mentoring programme which provided us with the tools to actively improve studio culture and nurture our team. The process has helped staff learn from past experience, share knowledge and aid with self-growth. The support has also seen us launch our own in-house mentoring programme, plan our EDI strategy and most importantly; help our management team improve awareness and identity, develop talents and contribute to the realisation of professional aspirations”.
Chris Castle, Managing Director, EPR Architects
We hope you we can continue to support you in 2020 - here are some of the comments from our evaluation of the FLUID programme:
100% of Mentee respondents feel programmes such as FLUID Mentoring help to bring diversity to their industry and provided feedback such as:
“It’s important for people to be able to look up to others who are like them, to have role models. Fluid facilitates this.”
“I think programme[s] of such initiate the conversation and that makes people/organisations think about what they are or are not doing.”
Over 85% of Mentee respondents agreed that FLUID Mentoring programme helped to develop or improve their skill sets.
“I have multiple skill sets - my mentor helped me clarify which of my skills brought me most satisfaction and growth potential”
The Mentors also attested to the benefits they themselves received from being involved in the FLUID programme finding it “Inspiring, Insightful, Engaging”
Reflecting on the experience, mentors commented on how it had been beneficial to them also “It has helped me improve my awareness into the issues facing members of minority groups in the construction industry, and also build peer connections and boosted my confidence.”
“Paying it forward while also promoting the value of inclusion in construction has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my professional career to date.”
Thank you to everyone who has supported us! It’s been a truly amazing year for Built By Us and we’d like to thank all of you for supporting our growth by volunteering as mentors, sharing your stories and telling people about us!
You are all stars!!
