The UK needs to build; there is a shortage of skilled workers and the workforce we have lacks diversity.
There are many organisations, initiatives and activities that help people from diverse backgrounds find and succeed in construction and built environment careers, but no single place that people can use to find this support. There is a wide talent pool of diverse and innovative people that offers a solution to current and future challenges faced by industry, but access to this pool is not as simple as it could be.
We have developed a prototype platform that connects people to what already exists. The platform helps users find:
- Organisations that can help
- Relevant and useful information and resources
- Mentoring networks
- Courses, training and events
- Work vacancies
We have also created a ‘Network of Networks’ that brings together organisations and initiatives that work with diverse and under-represented groups in construction and the built environment. Our aim is for the platform to integrate with the websites of the Communities, meaning that more diverse people can access industry activity in one simple place, and more support is given to the many organisations and initiatives that have this amazing reach into local and under-represented groups.
We have done all the above with a lot of passion and belief that we can make our industry more diverse and inclusive. We’re putting in the hours and have had significant support from our Founding Partners* that has enabled us to develop the prototype and the Network. We now want to take this platform and expand it to every diverse person, profession and trade across the built environment, bringing together people, knowledge, guidance, information, resources and work vacancies in one place. We want to help more diverse people to find and succeed in built environment careers.
We’re not duplicating effort and have created our prototype in partnership with over sixty organisations that support our vision of a better connected, and more diverse and inclusive built bnvironment, with access to the talent it needs to solve its current and future challenges.
- Expand the platform to connect more people to knowledge, guidance, information, resources and work opportunities across different trades and professions;
- Develop and grow our network of Communities that work with diverse audiences (organisations and initiatives that provide built environment careers support to women, BAME people, ex-military personnel, young people, LGBTQ+ people and ex-offenders);
- Share our technology with our Communities network, helping them do more through the integration of our ‘aggregating and connecting’ technology with their websites;
- Work with all voices across industry to ensure that we continue to develop a not-for-profit, sustainable and holistic service that brings tremendous benefits to all parts of construction and the built environment.
The UK needs to build; there is a shortage of skilled workers and the workforce we have lacks diversity.
Building People is based on collaboration. Our platform aggregates, promotes, connects and integrates with existing industry activity. Building People is a social enterprise (Community Interest Company).
We are not duplicating effort. The platform is designed to underpin and enable the websites of others, adding value without disrupting the user journey.We have a holistic approach and our aim is to cover all trades and professions across the built environment.
We are joining the dots across diversity and inclusion, skills and careers, and social value.
We don’t want you to stop focusing on your area of industry; we simply want to bring all the fragmented activity together, making it easier for the user to find and access what already exists.
Businesses can evidence their commitment to diversity and inclusion, skills and careers, and social value when bidding for work or responding to client/local authority obligations;
Businesses can direct their supply chains to Building People, thus providing a ‘one stop shop’ for local people seeking opportunities;
Businesses can easily promote their activities directly to an ever-growing network of diverse people and the organisations that work with them by sharing:
- Vacancies (work experience, apprenticeship, placements, internships, jobs)
- Events, courses and training
- Branded content and resources
- People (to act as role models, mentors and advisors)
You have a voice, whatever size your organisation;
By supporting Building People you help the organisations that have a reach into diverse communities:
We are sharing our ‘aggregating and connecting’ technology to enable these organisations to ‘do more with less’ via a white label approach, meaning significantly lower costs for the organisations;
We are bringing together the organisations and initiatives that work with diverse and under-represented people, adding value to their work by facilitating dialogue, sharing best practice and resources;
Please make your pledge in the category you choose. Here's what you get in relation to the amount you give, regardless of where you contribute:
- A copy of ‘A Manifesto for Change in the Built Environment’ by Terry Watts, former MD of the Chartered Institute of Building, and Executive Director at Building People.
You’ll get the above, plus:
- Shout out on social media (Twitter)
You’ll get all the above, plus:
- Shout out on all social media platforms (Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook)
An “I’ve joined in with Building People” logo to go on your website
You’ll get all the above, plus:
- A thank you mention in our monthly newsletter
You’ll get all the above, plus:
- Your name added to the News section of the Building People website
You’ll get all the above, plus:
- An advert for your business within one (of six) modules on the Building People website for one month or within the Directory of Business Support Services
You’ll get all the above, plus:
- An article/feature in ‘In the Spotlight’ section on the Building People home page for at least one month duration
- Free priority access to all six Building People Communities updates and outputs
You’ll get all the above, plus:
- One-hour virtual consultation with Rebecca Lovelace or Terry Watts, along with introductions to providers to support your widening participation / diversity and inclusion strategies
- The addition to your website/intranet of a direct link to the Building People platform and access to the aggregating and connecting modules
You’ll get all the above, plus:
- Headline sponsorship of three editions of the Building People newsletter
You’ll get all the above, plus:
- Headline sponsorship of one (of the six ‘What are you looking for?’) modules/buttons on the Building People home page for three months, or the Directory of Business Support Services for three months
You’ll get all the above, plus:
- Headline sponsorship of one (of six) Building People Communities for six months – to include your logo on all marketing and deliverables relating to the chosen Community (organisations and initiatives that provide built environment careers support to women, BAME people, ex-military personnel, young people, LGBTQ+ people and ex-offenders).
With twenty years’ experience in industry, Rebecca brings expertise in maximising the social impact of construction projects. She is the Founder and Chief Dot-joiner at Building People, a co-founder of Be Onsite and BuildForce, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
An experienced CEO of start-up and mid-sized businesses having run two Sector Skills Councils. He has put his passion for developing people, businesses and championing change to good use as Principal of the City of Oxford FE College, International Director of Activate Learning and MD of the CIOB. Terry is the Executive Director of Building People, and CEO of the CSTT.
Josh brings experience from events, training and coaching. Josh has been involved in start-ups from an early age, running his own motorsport team during and after college, before heading into freelance work as a trainer. Josh takes on the role of Programme Assistant at Building People with a focus on the company’s online presence, data and administration needs.
Molly is the Data Manager at Building People and graduated in 2020 from the University of Edinburgh with a Master’s in Chemistry. With previous experience of promoting diversity and inclusion within STEM societies at university, she is keen to transfer this enthusiasm and skill set to the built environment.
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