LCA and CDA join forces to #BreaktheBias

The reality is we are, like many if not most other organisations, are still vulnerable to unconscious bias, structural and systemic sexism in the sectors that we work in and the everyday sexism that in reality affects all of us but particularly women of colour. We therefore welcome the call to action of this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) to #BreaktheBias.

In 2019 we set up the LCA Women’s Network in order to respond to these myriad pressures and bring together women from across the built environment and local government to help each other succeed. We are extremely proud of how this network has grown over the last three years.

We are now, in response to the call to #BreaktheBias, excited to be taking new strides and today, on IWD 2022, are thrilled to announce a new partnership with the Central District Alliance (CDA).

The CDA is a Business Improvement District (BID), home to 400 businesses across St Giles, Bloomsbury, Holborn, Clerkenwell and Farringdon including LCA and many of our clients. The CDA footprint has a GVA totalling 1% of the UK GDP, not surprising when you consider that they are home to TikTok, Google, the British Museum, some of the world’s biggest law firms, best known hotels and much more besides.

Together we are launching UN_biased, a year-long research and engagement project which will explore what it takes to create a truly inclusive economy. Taking the CDA’s footprint, the scale and diversity of its offer, combining this with our network and reach across the built environment sector and creating a live case study to understand and address the barriers to equality, considering themes like access to jobs and skills, flexible working practices, inclusive and accessible spaces and physical and psychological safety.

The programme will include new research, engagement events and workshops, insight sessions and surveys and our aim is, this time next year, to publish our findings alongside some practical and implementable recommendations to #BreaktheBias once and for all. Given the CDA’s footprint, influence and supply chain, the findings here will have implications for the whole of the UK.

There has never been a better time to do this. As we recover from COVID, with Brexit behind us and a Net Zero future ahead we need to be honest in assessing our failings and bold in embracing different, better ways to be. And we certainly need to unleash everyone’s full potential.

We can’t wait to tell you more about our plans and in the meantime, if you or your organisation would like to be involved please get in touch.

- Jenna Goldberg, Board Director