EDI CASE STUDIES

Kier is one of the UK’s leading highways service providers. We work with organisations that are responsible for the roads we travel on such as National Highways, Transport for London and local authorities. Our dedicated teams manage and maintain 21,000km of the UK’s strategic and local road network night and day.

Using our in-house design and build teams, we deliver highways projects that help to keep the country moving, boost the economy and support active travel. As an integrator, we work closely with our partners to find innovative solutions which improve our roads and make a positive impact in local communities.

At Kier, our job is to keep people connected. But it’s not just what we do; it’s how we do it that sets us apart. We are committed to building a more inclusive place to work, where everyone has their voice heard and can fulfil their potential.
At Kier Highways we are always striving to demonstrate our commitment to the values of FREDIE and inspire others in the industry to do the same. We also recognise how important senior leadership is in embedding these values throughout our business. Keeping up the momentum from our continued accreditation as Leaders in Diversity, we were keen to take the next step in our journey, and so became the second company to undergo the year-long leadership development programme to achieve Masters in Diversity (MiD).

Our first cohort of 16 Highways leaders attended 6 masterclasses over the course of 12 months and developed a deeper understanding of the FREDIE principles of fairness, respect, equality, diversity, inclusion, and engagement. Through the programme they were able to consider the part they play in fostering an inclusive environment and their positions as role models, build knowledge, and identify areas for personal development.

This has been a brilliant opportunity to demonstrate to our people, our customers, our clients, and to the wider industry, that FREDIE is incredibly important at Kier and is at the heart of everything we do. We believe that actions speak louder than words, and the MiD Programme has allowed participants to be accountable for their education and improve their ability to embed these values into our business.

The impact has been clear to see in our leaders, with all involved finding the experience hugely valuable. So much so, that many have committed to furthering their development in this space by being the first people to embark on the Personal Inclusivity Development Programme with National Centre for Diversity. This will allow them to continue building their skills and knowledge, becoming more emotionally intelligent, inclusive, and thoughtful leaders.