‘Lend Lease’ lace up with thousands of workers across their building sites

Construction workers across the country have been issued with rainbow-coloured bootlaces to support LGBT equality in the building and construction industry.

THE infrastructure group Lend Lease has been working with the LGBT equality charity Stonewall to promote the campaign.

Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign aims to kick homophobia out of sport, and they have reinterpreted the campaign which was previously run with the support of football clubs to include thousands of builders at Lend Lease sites.

Workers based on sites including the Elephant and Castle regeneration project, the Zig Zag Building, the International Quarter in Stratford and the 13-storey Kings Gate have donned Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces together to kick homophobia, biphobia and transphobia out of their industry.

As part of this campaign, Lend Lease hopes to be the first employer from the construction and property industry to enter into Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index, a top 100 of Britain’s best employers for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people.

Lend Lease has recently launched its own allies programme, and has engaged with LGBT real-estate networking group Freehold.

Chris Edwards, Client Group Manager at Stonewall said: “We know that LGBT people still face challenges working in the construction industry. That’s why initiatives like this – and the work of senior role models and allies at Lend Lease and across the sector – are absolutely vital. We’re committed to working with organisations in the construction sector to help make the industry open and welcoming to all.”

Martin Coyd, Head of Health and Safety in Europe at Lend Lease and Chair of the Lend Lease Europe Diversity Council, added: “At Lend Lease, we pride ourselves on creating the best places and valuing the ways in which we differ.

“A diverse and inclusive culture makes good business sense. To perform at the best of our ability, we need a culture and an environment that embraces difference and where we can benefit from the diverse thinking, experiences and backgrounds of our people.

“When our industry becomes more inclusive, people can then be themselves, which allows them to reach their full potential. If we don’t embrace diversity we will lose out on the talent, skills and experience that come with it.”