Keltbray, a leading UK specialist engineering business, today announces it has joined over 600 employers in signing up to the Business in the Community (BITC) Race at Work Charter, an initiative designed to improve outcomes for black, Asian and minority ethnic employees in the UK.
Launched in partnership with the UK government in 2018, the Race at Work Charter builds on the work of the 2017 McGregor-Smith Review, which found that people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds were still underemployed, underpromoted and under-represented at senior levels.
The Race at Work Charter is a public commitment to improving the experiences of black, Asian and minority ethnic employees in the workplace. It sets out five actions for signatories like Keltbray to take:
- Appointing an Executive Sponsor for race
- Capturing data and publicising progress
- Ensuring zero tolerance of harassment and bullying
- Making equality in the workplace the responsibility of all leaders and managers
- Taking action that supports ethnic minority career progression
This year, research carried out by Business in the Community (BITC) on the second anniversary of the landmark Race at Work Charter launch reveals:
- 76% of employers say that action on race recruitment and progression is a strategic priority but only 46% have set targets to improve the racial diversity of their boards.
- 99 per cent of employers have a clear zero-tolerance policy on racial harassment and bullying but only 38 per cent of employers have commissioned a review into bullying and harassment in the workplace – down from 45% in 2019.
Sandra Kerr CBE, race equality director at Business in the Community, said:
“We would like to thank Keltbray for setting out their commitment to being an inclusive and responsible employer. By signing up to the charter, they are showing that they aspire to have one of the most inclusive workplaces in the country. Together we can break down barriers in the workplace, raise the aspirations and achievements of talented individuals and deliver an enormous boost to the long-term economic position of the UK.”
Darren James, Chief Executive Officer at Keltbray, commented: “Signing up to the Race at Work charter is an important step in our Inclusion journey, and we’re pleased to be setting out our commitment to becoming a more inclusive employer. As a business, our people are our top priority and we’re committed to fostering an environment where our workforce can thrive regardless of ethnicity or background. We’re looking forward to working with Business in the Community to drive this agenda forward and ensure that Keltbray sees progress that creates a real, lasting impact on our organisation and the industry.”
Ends
Media Enquiries
Nina Fairfowl, Corporate Communications Manager and Group Inclusion Manager
Keltbray Holdings Limited
Tel: 07395 792301
Email: [email protected]
Philip Pashley
Group Director, Corporate Communications
Keltbray Holdings Limited
Tel: 07860 954620
Email: [email protected]
Notes for Editors
About Keltbray
Keltbray is a leading UK specialist engineering and construction services business, offering a unique self-delivery capability spanning key phases of the construction value chain – civil engineering, geotechnical, asbestos management, demolition, piling and reinforced concrete structures, decommissioning, remediation, rail, power distribution and transmission, and environmental services.
The company was founded in 1976 and is privately owned, directly employs over 1,700 people, and is a key delivery partner to blue-chip public and private sector customers, contributing to the development and maintenance of Britain’s rapidly changing economic infrastructure and built environment.
Keltbray provides certainty of delivery to meet the needs of diverse and complex projects. Its professionally trained employees take pride in delivering safely and sustainably, on time, to budget, and with care for the environment and our communities. Keltbray has successfully completed a range of high profile construction projects on schemes including The Shard, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Stadium, St Pancras International, Crossrail, Earls Court, Battersea Power Station, Ferrybridge Power Station decommissioning and HS2.
About Business in the Community
Business in the community is the oldest and largest business-led membership organisation dedicated to responsible business. We were created nearly 40 years ago by HRH The Prince of Wales to champion responsible business.
We inspire, engage and challenge members and we mobilise that collective strength as a force for good in society to:
- Develop a skilled and inclusive workforce for today and tomorrow;
- Build thriving communities where people want to live and work;
- Innovate to sustain and repair our planet.
About the Race at Work Charter Survey
The Race at Work Charter survey, which is hosted by Business in the Community, explores employers’ commitments to improving the outcomes of black, Asian and ethnic minority employees in the workplace. It measures progress against the Race at Work Charter principles, which were launched in 2018.
114 employers completed the 2020 survey compared to 108 in 2019. These employers represent 1.4 million employees and are made up of 71 organisations in the private sector, 37 in the public sector and 6 in the third sector.
