This research for TransFIRe uncovered a series of findings about adoption of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) practices in the Foundation Industries, published in a pioneering report.

Introduction

TransFIRe is funded by the UKRI Transforming the Foundation Industries challenge fund, set out to develop innovative technology to reduce energy and resource use within the foundation industries – which include the cement, glass, ceramics, paper, metals and bulk chemicals sectors.

TransFIRe is an interdisciplinary research and practice hub with 12 UK research organisations and more than 80 project partners from across the foundation industries, trade associations, professional membership bodies, civic sector and government organisations.

Jo Stansfield acted as a fractional leader for TransFIRe’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) programme, reporting to Professor Sue Black OBE, which informs and supports adoption of best practice for EDI within the UK foundation industries and beyond.

The Brief

At the outset of this programme, research by UKRI had found the foundation industries to face a specific set of EDI challenges. Yet, as a new topic to these industries, there were many gaps in research, and it appeared that adoption of EDI practices was not well established.

Jo set out to measure a baseline of the EDI capabilities of organisations in the foundation industries in 2022. All TransFIRe academic and industry partners were invited to participate in an EDI survey, which consisted of 33 questions aligned to 7 major themes of common EDI interventions.

Our Approach

We invited all TransFIRe academic and industry partners to participate in an EDI survey, which consisted of 33 questions aligned to 7 major themes of common EDI interventions.

Outcomes

Respondents were skewed towards large organisations, itself an interesting finding showing which organisations were engaging with this topic. The results from the survey nevertheless provided new insight into the EDI landscape of the foundation industries, and highlighted the actions of organisations that are demonstrating strong leadership in this area.

The report of this research, State of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the UK Foundation Industries 2022, can be found on TransFIRe’s website.

Report transfire state of edi 2022

Impact

This research forms part of the final TransFIRe programme deliverables, and has advanced understanding of EDI in the Foundation Industries.

Jo has been an absolute pleasure to work with over the last 2 years. She has great expertise across both tech/engineering and EDI which has been invaluable to our work together on the TransFIRe project. Highly capable working with me at a strategic level through to managing team members, organising and running workshops, creating reports, giving talks, creating questionnaires and so much more. Jo is incredible, I couldn't recommend her more highly.

Professor Sue Black OBE, Durham University, EDI leader for TransFIRe

As the Director on this programme to help the Foundation Industries on a path to Net Zero it has been fantastic to work with the EDI Team led by Professor Sue Black OBE and Jo Stansfield. These industries have huge challenges in all aspects of EDI. They also hold the key to solving many of our challenges with Climate Change… We need a change of team to achieve net zero. That change will come by implementing EDI fully across all the sectors - at all levels - to change mind sets and increase creativity and diversity of thinking.

Professor Mark Jolly, Cranfield University, Director of TransFIRe
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