Support when you need it

The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has long promoted Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) to combat discrimination, exclusion, and harassment in civil engineering. The push intensified after the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, which led ICE to conduct a major UK membership survey in autumn 2020. Published in 2021 as the 'Racism in Civil Engineering' report, it exposed stark realities: more than 80% of black and ethnic minority respondents had witnessed racism in the workplace, and 73% within ICE itself. Over 60% of white respondents reported seeing racism at work and in the institution. Some described it as embedded in the culture.

The findings prompted ICE to adopt an explicitly anti-racist position, launch an anti-racist toolkit, and form the FIR Committee to guide inclusion efforts. Recommendations included stronger leadership on diversity, better reporting mechanisms, and industry-wide cultural change.

Regional FIR Action Groups, such as Yorkshire and Humber's, sustain this momentum through regular events, networks, and resources like FIR champions, allies, and helplines. These provide practical support for members facing issues related to fairness, inclusion, or respect.

The sector continues to grapple with under-representation—particularly of women and ethnic minorities—amid broader challenges like skills shortages and the need for diverse perspectives to deliver resilient, sustainable infrastructure. Effective support systems help retain talent, encourage reporting, and foster safer workplaces, which matters acutely as the industry faces pressure to innovate and grow.

The Yorkshire and Humber FIR Action Group's first digital event of 2026 signals that these conversations remain active and necessary, building on years of institutional commitment to meaningful change.