Embedding Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in Housing Retrofit
Introduction
There is a lack of EDI in the housing retrofit, construction, and sustainability sectors. Consideration of EDI is essential to attract diverse talent to organisations working on retrofit, cater to diverse needs of residents from different backgrounds, and ensure effective solutions to complex challenges impacting social housing resident’s lives.
The toolkit provides guidance on how to improve EDI in retrofit projects by considering best practices in the workplace, resident engagement, procurement and supply chain, and project selection processes.
Contents
Summary
Equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are three closely linked values that enable us to be supportive to the needs of different groups of people, including those with protected characteristics as defined by the Equalities Act 2010. For the purpose of this toolkit, we are adopting Re-engage’s definition on equality, diversity, and inclusion as:
Equality means offering the same rights and opportunities to all people.
Diversity is understanding that each person is unique. It means embracing people’s differences, including their beliefs, abilities, preferences, backgrounds, values, and identities.
Inclusion means that all people, without exception, have the right to be included, respected, and appreciated as valuable members of the community.
There is a lack of EDI in the housing retrofit, construction, and sustainability sectors. Consideration of EDI is essential to attract diverse talent to organisations working on retrofit, cater to diverse needs of residents from different backgrounds, and ensure effective solutions to complex challenges impacting social housing resident’s lives. Opinions and needs of residents must be reflected in the decisions made when retrofitting their homes. Housing providers should take a systematic approach to ensure all stages of the retrofit process have considered key EDI issues including resident engagement, social value and project selection, procurement, and embedding EDI within workplace culture.
Who should use the toolkit?
This EDI toolkit has been designed specifically to help Registered Providers of social housing (RPs) and local authorities (LAs), and other stakeholders involved with the development and delivery of housing retrofit with the following:
• The design and delivery of their retrofit projects
• Equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) within their organisation
• Social value generated through retrofit projects
How should you use the toolkit?
Use the toolkit along your full retrofit project journey, starting from the project selection and planning stage up until project completion and handover.
The toolkit provides guidance on how to improve EDI in retrofit projects by considering best practices in the workplace, resident engagement, procurement and supply chain, and project selection processes. Use the advice in the toolkit and the maturity assessment tool (see page 12) to establish your baseline and develop your EDI strategy for your retrofit projects. The toolkit and case studies can help you set clear targets and strategies for monitoring and measuring your progress.
The toolkit is designed to be applicable across all regions in England. Each retrofit project and each location within your project will have its own EDI considerations and specific requirements to be addressed.
Recommended Process
• Read the information in Levels 1 and 2 to understand the toolkit basics
• Access useful resource links for further information