The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has today launched the RIBA Inclusion Charter and calls on architects and practices to sign-up and pledge their support for equity and inclusion.
The RIBA Inclusion Charter sets out five actions to drive cultural change in our workplaces and industry.
By signing the RIBA Inclusion Charter, individuals and practices:
- ACKNOWLEDGE the urgent need for inclusion in the architecture profession and wider construction industry.
- COMMIT to setting inclusion targets and an EDI action plan for their practice.
- COMMIT to developing their workplace culture, talent pipeline and ways of working to support inclusion.
- COMMIT to publicly reporting on progress of their EDI plan – transparency and accountability are vital to drive cultural change.
- COMMIT to embedding inclusive design in all projects, and contributing to the development of inclusive environments.
The RIBA Inclusion Charter enables signatories to build on the requirements of the RIBA Codes of Conduct and Practice. For example, RIBA Chartered Practices must already have an EDI policy (the policy guide is currently being updated).
Charter signatories will be supported by the RIBA’s expanded EDI team and have access to best practice guidance on topics including recruiting diverse talent, inclusion data monitoring and establishing employee resource groups.
The RIBA has also today published Inclusion Footprints, a series of basic steps everyone can take – regardless of where they are in their career journey – to help drive change.
RIBA President, Alan Jones, said: “We must pull together as employees, employers and business leaders to share best practice and put an end to any discrimination. The RIBA Inclusion Charter gives architects and practices an opportunity to further their commitment to an inclusive profession, and share their experiences and expertise with others. I commend the founding signatories of the RIBA Inclusion Charter for making themselves accountable for change, and urge every architect and practice – regardless of scale, work or location – to step-up and sign-up to join our new community of equity champions.”
Founding signatory, Kirsten Lees, Grimshaw, said: “At Grimshaw, as architects and designers we recognise that the strength of our work is due to the quality of our people. We know how important it is that we recruit and retain the widest possible mix of voices and experiences that reflect the diversity of our society and the communities that use and experience our designs. Our 2016 diversity plan has been successful in implementing meaningful change within the practice and as a founding signatory on the RIBA Inclusion Charter we pledge to continue to build on this and support the wider industry to address existing challenges and inequalities.”
