Business Articles

4th September 2007 - Energise

Building on Equality

A Derby-based consultancy is offering advice to the housing sector and its suppliers on developing equality action plans.

The Housing Corporation, which regulates the sector, has set out its expectation that Housing Associations will develop and publish action plans to improve equality. The plans will affect employment, tenant services and supplier standards in the housing sector. The plans for Disability and Gender Equality are required by December '07 and April '08 respectively.

Energise, the diversity consultancy, is offering advice on developing effective action plans based on experience in the housing sector. Vanessa Boon, Lead Consultant, said, "Housing Associations that treat this as a paper exercise will be missing a trick. A meaningful Diversity HealthCheck will identify pockets of good practice that can be applied more widely, as well as risks and opportunities. The benefits include a more diverse workforce, improved tenant satisfaction, cost avoidance and winning new business. Suppliers with a strong record on equality will also be rewarded".

Energise has developed a free short guide to developing equality action plans in the housing context. The guide makes the business case for investing in diversity and explains how to develop an impactive equality action plan. It also explains how the Housing Corporation will monitor compliance in this area.

The free guide can be requested from Energise via the website 'contact us' or by e-mail.

Vanessa Boon Energise People Development & Diversity P.O. Box 7450 Derby DE1 0JR Tel: 07913 680 088 Web: www.energise.webeden.co.uk