Building Equality – the construction industry’s LGBTQ+ alliance – brought the iconic Manchester Pride selfie favourite, the Rainbow JCB back for its annual outreach event on Exchange Square today (Friday).

While Manchester Pride may be a little different this year, Building Equality were determined to organise an event that enabled us to safely show our support of Manchester’s LGBTQ+ community.

Building Equality members from more than 50+ construction organisations, attended Exchange Square, Manchester to showcase the accessibility of the construction industry to LGBTQ+ individuals and other minority groups.

Members offered advice and guidance to anyone interested in construction, the work of Building Equality and the career opportunities available within the sector.

Of course, the celebration would not have been complete without the return of the famous Rainbow JCB, provided by BE’s long-term supporter P.Flannery Plant Hire. Hundreds of people stopped to speak with members and grab their Pride Selfie with the JCB!

Lucy Bradbury, Building Equality Greater Manchester Co-Chair explained:

“Building Equality are so proud to be able to have been able to host our fourth public outreach day at Exchange Square today. We aim to challenge and change preconceived perceptions of the construction and engineering industry by visibly demonstrating and celebrating our diversity and inclusivity. We won’t be attending Manchester Pride in the usual fashion this year but we still need to demonstrate the incredible progress the industry has made by supporting the LGBTQ+ community, as well as some of the challenges we’re still working to address. As with all our events this year, we are fundraising for the George House Trust and you can donate online https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/buildingequalitygeorgehousetrust.”

With lockdown restrictions easing and physical events returning, earlier this summer, Building Equality Greater Manchester supported Salford’s Pink Picnic.

Building Equality Greater Manchester seek to be a catalyst for continued change on issues facing the LGBTQ+ community within the construction, engineering and built environment sector.

To both educate and empower colleagues across the industry to become active change makers, the alliance has rolled out a bespoke allies toolbox talk pack, designed to explore the importance of allyship and detail how individuals, and businesses, can make positive differences through small changes.

This educational resource, which has been delivered to over 500 industry professionals, examines how we all can ‘LIVE’ (Listen, Influence, be Visible as well as Educate and Empower) being an ally as well as providing useful hints and tips on being an ‘Accepting, Listening, Learning and Year-round ally’ to the LGBTQ+ community