Tideway, the company building London’s new super sewer, has signed up to the Business in the Community (BITC) Race at Work Charter to improve the outcomes for black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) employees in the UK.

The charter builds on a 2017 review into ‘race in the workplace’, which found that people from BAME backgrounds were still underemployed, underpromoted and under-represented at senior levels.

Tideway joins a growing list of public, private and charitable organisations that have signed the Race at Work Charter, which, among other things, commits signatories to appointing an executive sponsor for race.

Mathew Duncan, Tideway’s Chief Financial Officer, said: “I’m very proud to be Tideway’s Executive Sponsor for Race and look forward to championing and building upon the work we do to promote inclusion and diversity.

“Tideway is a complex project, vital for improving water quality in the River Thames, and so it is essential that we encourage the widest possible pool of talent to come and work with us.

“This can only be achieved by demonstrating clear leadership and commitment to tackling race and diversity issues in all areas of our business and we’re very pleased to become signatories of the Race at Work Charter.”

The Race at Work Charter consists of five principals to ensure organisations address the barriers to BAME recruitment and progression:

• Appointing an Executive Sponsor for race
• Capturing data and publicising progress
• Ensuring zero tolerance of harassment and bullying
• Making equality in the workplace the responsibility of all leaders and managers
• Taking action that supports ethnic minority career progression

Sandra Kerr OBE, Race Equality Director at BITC, said: “We would like to thank Tideway for setting out their commitment to being an inclusive and responsible employer.

“By signing up to the charter they are showing that they aspire to have one of the most inclusive workplaces in the country.

“Together we can break down barriers in the workplace, raise the aspirations and achievements of talented individuals, and deliver an enormous boost to the long-term economic position of the UK.”