The TransFIRe Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) programme exists to inform and support adoption of best practice for EDI within the UK foundation industries and beyond. We believe EDI to be requisite to embed the new learning, behaviours, process, and innovation required for industry transformation for a sustainable future and to achieve the net zero 2050 goals.
Our goal is to establish foundations and leadership for EDI within the foundation industries to create and sustain this industry transformation.
EDI Challenges in the foundation industries
It is becoming increasingly apparent and widely accepted that equity, diversity and inclusion are of paramount importance in the success of any organisation or project. Yet the foundation industries face a specific set of EDI challenges. Research by UKRI has highlighted
• Lacking representation, particularly of women and younger people
• An aging workforce and loss of skills lost through retirement
• Challenge keeping pace with evolving skillsets particularly for digitization and new technologies
• Developing the talent pipeline poses challenges especially for small businesses.
• Bespoke, sector specific training is lacking. Engagement with higher education on curriculum is needed.
• No research has yet been conducted beyond gender and age, so little is known about the representation and inclusion of diverse identities more broadly
• Lacking business case specific to EDI for the foundation industries
• Sector image and culture are not attractive to new entrants
Our EDI Strategy
Our EDI strategy has been developed in response to these challenges. We consider all aspects of diversity within the TransFIRe project including, but not limited to, race/ethnicity, gender, social class, disability, and sexual orientation.
We have developed a strategic action plan that will:
• Establish self-sustaining industry practices regarding EDI and a forum to drive strategic leadership, to develop and share best practice.
• Identify gaps in knowledge and build a body of research of equity, diversity and inclusion in the foundation industries.
• Align the EDI agenda to Net Zero, future skills, digitisation and innovation goals to paint a compelling, holistic future vision and business case for EDI in the foundation industries.
• Establish structures and build capabilities to attract, retain and progress diverse talent across each of the foundation industries.
To help us to deliver on these goals, EDI is represented throughout TransFIRe’s Governance structure.
Get Involved
Contact us to join our EDI Working Group. The working group guides our priorities, captures best practices and helps us to build connections to organisations and people championing EDI within the foundation industries
EDI Industry Survey Report
The TransFIRe EDI team have brought together a series of findings in a “State of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the UK Foundation Industries 2022” report. Please download the full report and its findings here.
EDI Playbook
The EDI Playbook is a work in progress, continually growing set of resources and case studies to support organisations within the foundation industries to increase EDI in their teams
Equity Edge Podcast
Coming soon! The Equity Edge Podcast is all about shaping tomorrow’s foundation industries, with a focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), and how it can help us achieve a sustainable and fairer future
Blog
EDI Case Study: Launching Member Networks at IOM3
Launched by its Chief Executive in response to member demand, in 2021 the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) introduced three new member networks, to bring together and support people who may be in [...]
EDI Case Study: Constellium UK Ltd
Constellium is a global leader in the Aluminium industry, they design and manufacture advanced alloys and engineered solutions for a range of applications, such as beverage cans, cars, airplanes, and more. The UK entity is [...]
Inclusive Innovation in the Foundation Industries
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure to meet Karen Souza, D&I Partner at Innovate UK KTN. I was excited to hear about their focus on Inclusive Innovation, and immediately asked her to join [...]
Foundation Industries 4.0 – Workshop and Networking event
Last month, I had the pleasure to join the Women Innovators in Foundation Industries (WINFI) workshop and networking event. Held in London at IOM3, the event brought together people from across the foundation industries to [...]
EDI Case Study: Glass Technologies
Glass Technology Services (GTS) has 53 employees, with some employees contracted by British Glass. Chris Holcroft, Principal Technologist, took us on a tour of the laboratory / research and development area, where we observed how [...]
EDI Case Study: Sheffield Forgemasters
For our latest site visit, the EDI team toured the foundry and heat house of the 66-acre Sheffield Forgemasters site, in Sheffield. Sheffield Forgemasters has 700 employees, and specialises in integrated steel production, from preliminary [...]
EDI Case Study: Elevating Wellbeing and Mental Health Awareness at Hanson
In Brief Company Hanson Industry Cement and quarry products Location Nationwide Company Size 3,500 employees Intervention Introduction of a comprehensive Wellbeing and Mental Health programme Specific challenges Mental health became an increasing issue during the [...]
EDI case study: The Materials Processing Institute
This case study highlights proactive leadership, the importance of incorporating the lived experiences and voices of employees in transforming workplace culture and how policies, aligned to corporate values embeds diversity and inclusion as a [...]
Spotlight Interview with Professor Mark Jolly
Can you introduce yourself and tell me a bit about your role within TransFIRe? I'm Mark Jolly, Professor and Director of Manufacturing and Materials at Cranfield University and I've been in post for about [...]