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How can public sector organisations create more opportunities for ethnic minority-led architecture and design practices? Read the main takeaways from our recent diversity in procurement event to find out. 

The architecture profession does not reflect the ethnic diversity of the communities it serves, especially in London. This gap is a major challenge for creating inclusive places and spaces. 

Our recent event in partnership with LHC explored ways in which we can and should change the way our industry procures architecture and design services in order to deliver better a built environment for local people. 

We brought together a group of experts to offer their insights followed by an audience discussion on practical ways the public sector can reframe procurement processes to improve ethnic diversity in architecture and design services. 

Eight key themes emerged from the discussion including avoiding tokenism, involving young people and building the capacity of smaller firms.  

Speakers  

• Sharmin Ahmed, Project Manager – Regeneration and Inclusive Leadership Champion, Hackney Council 
• Nana Biamah-Ofosu, Director, YAA Projects 
• Carl Konadu BEM, CEO and Cofounder, 2–3 Degrees 
• Osama Shoush, Strategic Lead, Southwark Construction, Southwark Council 
• Shona Snow, Director of Product Innovation, LHC (panel chair) 

Why procurement must be more representative  

“Unless you specifically consider how your procurement is going to promote diverse outcomes, it won’t. You can’t just ignore it.” Osama Shoush, Southwark Council  

We often think of procurement as a way of getting things done, when the fundamental question should be “who are we designing for?”  

Nana highlighted that nearly 40% of London’s population identifies as non-white, but only 11% of registered architects do so. As a result, urban design projects may not reflect the communities they serve. 

The public sector is now legally required to consider how the services it procures improve the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of communities. But much more must be done to ensure procurement processes and project teams are representative. What steps should we take? 

1. Know your community 

A deep understanding of local people’s needs and concerns should be the starting point of procurement, rather than the end. The lived experiences of diverse architects are vital in shaping environments that cater to different cultural and social needs.  

“Nothing can beat really knowing the community you work in,” said Osama.  

Anyone engaged in procurement, particularly at the senior level, should talk to the people that they are procuring for, work out what they want and what their concerns are. 

Nana Biamah-Ofosu (second left, Director of YAA Projects) and her colleagues from Collective Cultures

2. Avoid tokenism

“It’s essential to have open and honest conversations about how much the industry demands of small practices in terms of supporting diversity within the built environment.” Nana Biamah-Ofosu, YAA Projects

Some larger firms partner with smaller global majority-led firms on bids, but this often results in the smaller firm being sidelined and having little influence over decision-making. One potential solution is for smaller practices to form a consortium, as Nana has done with colleagues (as Collective Cultures), to build critical mass, represent different lived experiences and harness a range of skills.  

Osama admitted Southwark Council’s failure to hire black-led practices in the first version of its Architect Design Services Framework and highlighted the reasons for this.  

Asking architects for their equalities policies is not enough. What’s needed are practices that are diverse, that value diversity and that are actively taking steps to address representation in their work. In developing a revised framework, Southwark and LHC worked hard on getting beyond the rhetoric to find out what practices are actually doing about it.

3. Be flexible 

“It’s important to remember that you are actually in control.” Sharmin Ahmed, Hackney Council 

Local authorities need to proactively design tenders and ensure equitable opportunities for global majority-led firms. Sharmin noted that borough teams can feel daunted by the scale of vast disparities to overcome. But setting the strategic objectives for procurement is within the borough’s gift.  

Hackney Council has employed an approach in its New Homes Programme using invited shortlists to procure smaller projects. Each practice had to fulfil two of three criteria – local, small and female or ethnic minority-led. The proportion of directors and staff from ethnic minority backgrounds in the appointed companies is higher than the industry average.  

“Remember you are in control” – Sharmin Ahmed, Hackney Council

Councils are under lots of pressure, and that means people often choose what they think already what works. Carl explained that taking what might appear to be a risk, including employing firms like 2–3 Degrees to engage diverse young people as stakeholders, can have much wider and long-lasting impact on the local community in opening access to new opportunities and careers in the industry. 

4. Build capacity among smaller firms

Fees and insurance are still massive barriers to emerging practices getting work, because the thresholds are too high. Solutions include adjusting procurement frameworks to lower financial limits and creating specialist lots that cater to small and micro-practices’ experience.  

Giving SMEs smaller, low value lots can also help them to build experience and capacity in working with local authorities, and gain references for future work. 

5. Involve procurement teams earlier

Despite efforts, bureaucratic hurdles still limit the implementation of diverse procurement strategies. The solution, said Osama, is to constructively challenge procurement colleagues to find the right way of structuring processes to achieve the desired outcomes.  

It’s essential to involve procurement teams as early as possible in project briefs to embed diversity and inclusion as core outcomes. 

6. Involve young people

Carl addressed the key underlying question of a lack of representation in the built environment professions.  

The key to building a more diverse and representative industry is to introduce young people, especially those from ethnic minority groups, to the broad range of careers in architecture and urban design. Future of London does this through its Emerging Talent Programme. 

Carl emphasised that for youth engagement to be meaningful, it needs to have a tangible impact for the young people involved, and they need to be paid for their time. It also must be fun, engaging and dynamic. 

7. Collect and analyse data

Sharmin explained that Hackney Council has a clear set of principles in what it expects built environment suppliers to deliver in relation to diversity and inclusion goals. Targets for employing local people – in a borough where 47% of the population identifies as black or from other ethnic minority groups – are embedded in contractual obligations for construction companies.  

The council relies on data collection to regularly monitor those consultants and contractors. It’s essential therefore to record improvement or regression by establishing a clear data baseline and tracking the metrics.

8. Champion diverse suppliers

“We have to make sure [championing ethnic diversity] is a shared responsibility to everyone involved: the people doing the procuring and the people doing the delivery.” Carl Konadu, 2–3 Degrees

People from marginalised groups or communities are often overlooked in procurement processes due to others having established connections or networks. This leads to the same individuals, usually from similar demographics, being repeatedly chosen for projects.  

We therefore need advocates or champions who can advocate for and facilitate direct appointments of diverse suppliers. Initial enthusiasm for including diverse voices often diminishes when clients change internally, so continuing support is essential.  

Thanks to not-for profit procurement framework provider LHC for their support on this project.  

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