First UKAA & Swift Bunny Diversity and Inclusion Snapshot provides benchmark for UK Build to Rent sector
- 82% of BTR employees feel their company respects individual differences
- 79% feel their employer is outwardly committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace
- Snapshot lays the foundation for future surveys
The UKAA (UK Apartment Association, the representative body for build to rent in the UK) and Swift Bunny (an independent, third-party employee feedback provider) have released the initial findings of the first Build to Rent Diversity and Inclusion Snapshot.
In the spring of 2022, Swift Bunny and the UKAA partnered to uncover UKAA members’ sentiments with a Diversity and Inclusion survey. The initial findings of the Build to Rent Diversity and Inclusion Snapshot provide a first step in understanding the perceptions employees have as well as serving as a benchmark against which future progress can be measured.
Diversity and inclusion is a key focus for the UKAA and one of the themes of the UKAA Annual Conference and Industry Awards, which will take place on 15th November 2022.
This pilot edition represented a small sample size (with future participation expected to grow) nonetheless the Snapshot revealed some interesting insights.
Findings from the Snapshot reveal that the UK build to rent sector can be proud that 84% of employees recognise supervisors for creating inclusive work environments for their direct reports. Additionally, a strong 82% of employees agree that their company respects individuals’ differences and 79% of respondents agreed that their employer was outwardly committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Further work is needed, though, when it comes to companies seeking to understand their employees’ feelings about diversity and inclusion, with only two thirds of respondents agreeing that their employers currently do this. Seeking to understand employees’ feelings on diversity and inclusion is the critical first step in publicly recognising it as a point of focus for a company, as well as creating positive change.
One of the greatest opportunities for improvement identified was ensuring that job opportunities are promoted to all employees, with only 63% of employees agreeing they are notified of job openings. Team members at all levels are keenly interested in career development, whether that means progressing through managerial levels or expanding into different aspects of the business.
“The 2022 Build to Rent Diversity and Inclusion Survey was our first step in understanding the perceptions that employees have about diversity and inclusion within the sector. It has provided a snapshot of how employees currently feel, with informative insights that can help form the foundation of work moving forward. Over time, our goal is to support better informed decisions around recruitment, hiring, educating and retaining employees across the entire BTR industry.”
Brendan Geraghty, CEO, UKAA
The next Diversity and Inclusion Snapshot is scheduled to take place in September 2022. To receive information about participating in the upcoming UKAA, Swift Bunny and NAA (National Apartment Association) in the US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion study in September 2022, please register here.
UKAA is also hosting a diversity and inclusion webinar – Building the Foundation for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – on 6th September 2022, which you can register for here: https://thearl.org.uk/event/building-the-foundation-for-diversity-equity-and-inclusion/