Construction industry in London and Diversity performance

Last updated: 11/09/08

Construction industry in London and Diversity performance

Researchers

Marc Craw, Kalapi Roy, Monika Beutel, Professor Steve Jefferys and Dr Chris Wall
Working Lives Research Institute, London Metropolitan University

Professor Linda Clarke
Westminster Centre for Employment Research, University of Westminster

Time Scale

May 2006 - September 2006

Funding

The Greater London Authority (GLA) and London Development Agency (LDA) with the support of Construction Industry and Training Board - CITB-ConstructionSkills (and the Southern and Eastern Region Trade Unions Council (SERTUC)

Project Summary

The Working Lives Research Institute at London Metropolitan University is carrying out research into the diversity performance of London’s construction industry. The research will focus on the equality target groups, namely people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities (BAME), women, disabled people, and other equalities groups.

The project will examine the experience of these groups by looking at contractors’ and sub-contractors’ processes in recruiting and employing construction workers and engaging small and medium-sized enterprises owned by target equality groups.

The objectives of the research include:

identifying the reasons behind the lack of diversity within the construction sector workforce;
identifying the processes and procedures that would need to be put in place to deliver improved workforce and supplier diversity
identifying good practice and formulating policy recommendations

The research will explore the following issues:

current recruitment, employment and work practices in the industry
training and work experience for the sector
business opportunities in the sector
perceptions of the industry, particularly amongst underrepresented groups

The research will largely concentrate on exploring the processes on the demand side of employment and contracting. It will also complement other research on the supply issues (in particular skills and training).

Research Methods

The research will focus on four case studies of different types and in different parts of London:

Homes for Islington = repair and maintenanc
BAA Terminal 5 = infrastructure
Wembley Stadium = infrastructure
Greenwich Peninsula Housing = domestic build

Each case study will concentrate on particular aspects of the issues in qualitative depth. Across the case studies, a range of research methods will be used including:

desk research involving literature review, demographic and labour market profiles and policy and local initiative review
interviews with key stakeholders to give an overview of the construction industry and insights into the case studies, including major contractors, recruitment agencies, training providers, trade unions, local and regional government departments and other construction industry-related bodies
in-depth semi-structured interviews in relation to the case studies with site managers, sub-contractors, union representatives, construction workers, underrepresented groups and trainees

Timetable and Outcomes

The project will run from May 2006 to September 2006. An interim scoping report will be prepared in early June 2006 and fieldwork will largely be conducted over June/July 2006. Keys lines of advice will be prepared by the end of August 2006 and the final report will be submitted by the end of September 2006. A Project Steering Board will provide advice and guidance to the research team.

The final report will make policy recommendations directed to the GLA, LDA, CITB-ConstructionSkills and SERTUC in relation to the core objectives. In particular, the report will seek to inform the work of the Olympic Development Agency (ODA) towards the construction of Olympics sites.

For further information about the project please contact

For further information, please contact Marc Craw on 020 7320 3573, m.craw@londonmet.ac.uk or Kalapi Roy on 020 7320 3002, k.roy@londonmet.ac.uk.