New CIC group targets industry’s ‘woeful’ lack of diversity

The Construction Industry Council (CIC) has announced the launch of Diversitas, an umbrella body for black professionals in the built environment sector.

Development of the group has been facilitated by CIC, under the direction of immediate past chair Justin Sullivan, with the aim of increasing the representation of black professionals within CIC networks and the built environment.  

Commenting on the launch, Sullivan said: “On becoming deputy chair of CIC, and then chair of CIC, it was clear to me that the diversity industry-wide in construction is woeful, but it is even worse at leadership level. 

“Construction workers and professionals, if they see black people in leadership positions, will be encouraged to push themselves to achieve those roles.”

Diversitas will be chaired by Jessica Taylor, partner at Ashfords, supported by vice chair Gail Royston, senior cost manager at CBRE.

The first member organisations of Diversitas are DiverseCity Surveyors, the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE-UK), Black Professionals in Construction (BPIC Network) and the BAME Planners Network. 

Taylor said: “I’m delighted to be able to launch Diversitas as a unique grouping made up of leading black construction professional organisations. 

“Having worked as a lawyer in the construction industry for more than 30 years, I am very much looking forward to driving forward the work of Diversitas and seeing greater participation of talented black construction professionals in the work of the CIC and in the wider industry.”