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Identity for LHT E & D campaign
Respect, equality and diversity are firmly entrenched as watchwords for Liverpool Housing Trust (LHT), part of Vicinity Group, but how best to ensure that this fundamental business approach extends to their contractors? LHT Property Services have an outstanding record of working with contractors in mutually beneficial partnerships and prioritise fostering an understanding and awareness of Equality & Diversity (E & D).
Their approach has included the development of E&D principles in line with LHT's Equality & Diversity Policy and working closely with contractors to develop their own E&D policies through the provision of seminars, DVD's and the creation of a diversity 'toolkit' for contractors to train their own staff. This has been collectively branded as Think RED (Respect, Equality & Diversity) which was launched at a training event held at the Lace Centre in Liverpool’s Sefton Park.
The training for both contractor front line staff and LHT Customer
Service Centre teams, was developed through pre-event focus groups
addressing issues which may affect LHT customers. Facilitated and
delivered by AFTA thought, a training consultancy that applies
drama techniques to change behaviour, a range of dramatic scenarios
focused on issues such as disability, homophobia, racism and faith
awareness.
Over 250 staff from nearly 40 companies attended the sessions and
feedback from the attendees was extremely positive - comments
included: “A very different approach to training which really
hit home, much better than a presentation!”
LHT Surveying Team Leader Paul Williams commented: “Our aim
at LHT is to provide a tailored service which meets the needs of
the individual rather than a 'one size fits all' approach.
Investing time and energy into improving contractor E&D
awareness will make our repair services more accessible and make
sure that we meet tenant expectations.”
The event was also supported by a number of external agencies including Age Concern, Richmond Fellowship, 800 Group, Big Word Translation Services and Construction Skills.
