Women- and minority-owned businesses
Several cities and public customers in the USA require that a portion of construction contracts be awarded to women- or minority- owned businesses. In 2006, we established the Construction Management Building Blocks Training Program (CMBB) to promote this field of growing companies. The program introduces potential partners and provides training, knowledge sharing forums and assistance to small companies to spur their development. After many years of engaging with small and diverse US businesses, more than 800 companies have graduated from the program.
Measurable social impact
There is a lack of sector consensus on definitions for and tools to measure, quantify and compare social impact. Even so, international certification schemes for buildings and infrastructure are increasingly adding social topics to their social impact disclosures. WELL has a strong focus on tenant health and well-being, and LEED has introduced social equity pilot credits designed to reduce disparities by recognizing projects that extend the benefits of green building to communities. CEEQUAL and Envision are certification tools for infrastructure projects, recognizing projects that engage in activities and programs to expand the project’s positive social impact on the community.