UK: The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Women in Transport has issued guidance on fostering a more inclusive work environment on transport construction sites to help retain talent and attract under-represented groups to the workforce.
Five key recommendations
The Equity, Diversity & Inclusion as part of Health & Safety Strategies report makes five key recommendations:
- addressing cultural challenges;
- fostering diverse teams;
- learning from other industries;
- embedding inclusion from the design stage;
- prioritising accessibility.
‘Inclusive practices can transform working environments’, said Jo Field, Chair of Women in Transport and CEO of JFG Communications. ‘From addressing ’inadequate personal protective equipment and unsuitable facilities to ensuring safety briefings are accessible to everyone, there is still important work to be done to create safe, supportive spaces for all.’
West Coast support
The report was funded by the West Coast Partnership joint venture of FirstGroup and Trenitalia, and features case studies from its Avanti West Coast services.
Dave Whitehouse, Safety, Security & Environment Director at the train operator, said ‘we are pleased to support this important report, contributing to a safer railway. At Avanti West Coast we’re passionate about recruiting talent from all backgrounds because we know diverse teams offer varied perspectives. We’re committed to playing our part to having a workforce that is representative of society and the communities we serve and hope it will encourage further discussion across the industry to create a culture where employees feel supported.’
