The City of London Corporation today announces a free one-day event that provides a platform to address the lack of diversity in the construction industry's workforce. The Construction Diversity Expo, organised with the National Organisation for Tradeswomen, Women and Manual Trades, takes place on 31 March 2010 at the Guildhall, London EC2.
News of the Expo comes ahead of the final report by the Equality & Human Rights Commission into discrimination in the construction industry and demonstrates collective action by the industry to tackle the issue.
Land Securities and Wates Construction are among the firms already confirmed to attend. They join policymakers and industry groups at the Expo, which aims to encourage more women, disabled people and ethnicities into a workforce that traditionally dominated by Caucasian men.
A morning conference starts with keynote speeches from leading figures, including:
· Stuart Fraser, chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee at the City of London Corporation
· Alison Carnwath, chairman of Land Securities, Britain's biggest property company,
· James Wates, deputy chair of Wates Construction and Chair of UK Contractors Group,
· Judy Lowe, deputy chairman of Construction Skills.
Delegates will take part in one of three workshops devised to encourage debate on the findings of the Equality & Human Rights Commission inquiry and share best practice across the sector.
Candidates interested in finding employment or training opportunities in construction are invited to attend an afternoon trade fair. Employers and education and training specialists, including Amey, Axis Europe, British Gas, Carillion, JTL, Lakehouse, Mitie, Skanska, and WATES group will be on hand to discuss their future prospects.
The Construction Diversity Expo takes place Wednesday 31 March 2010 at the Guildhall, London EC2. The conference takes place 10.00-13.00 and the Expo will be open to the public from 13.00-18.00. Construction employers, training providers and support organisations operating in the City of London or its neighbouring boroughs are invited to exhibit free of charge. For more information, visit www.constructiondiversityexpo.org.uk.