The Housing Corporation has awarded £95,000 to a north-western consultant to create the first database of black and minority ethnic (BME) contractors.
The database aims to develop business opportunities for BME contractors, suppliers and consultants. Consultant Building Positive Action will develop it.

Phase one of the project, which will last for 12 months, is a pilot study, collating the details of BME contractors in the North-west.

In phase two, which will begin in six months, De Montfort and Salford universities will update national records. The database will be rolled out nationwide in phase three.

Angela Rooney, project director for Building Positive Action, said: "We will be helping housing associations to meet the Housing Corporation's requirements for racial equality, as well as supporting the business case to promote economic development within the diverse communities in which many associations operate."

The corporation has not set any performance targets for the database, but will expect a full report from Building Positive Action at the end of the project.

Norman Perry, the corporation's chief executive, said: "I believe [the database] will become an invaluable resource and give contractors from all communities equal access to housing sector projects."

Source

Housing Today