The Supply Chain Sustainability School has published the 10th annual Fairness, Inclusion & Respect (FIR) Culture Impact Report, marking a decade of continuous reporting on fairness, inclusion and respect across the built environment.
This year’s findings highlight strong progress made in the past 12 months, while also underscoring where further change is still needed.
The 2025 survey was completed by 990 people across the sector, including 329 members of the School’s FIR Ambassadors Network, who actively promote a culture of fairness, inclusion and respect within their organisations.
Results show that the FIR Programme is driving real impact. A record 97% of respondents said it had helped them understand the business case for FIR, up from 92% last year. 88% percent feel empowered to deal with FIR issues effectively, while the same proportion now have the confidence to challenge poor behaviours – a 10% rise on 2024.
Organisational processes are also shifting. 60% of respondents reported that FIR is influencing recruitment practices, while 59% said it is shaping people-management processes. In procurement, 17% of organisations said FIR is now fully embedded within supply chain practices, with more beginning to take action than in previous years.
Despite this progress, areas such as diversity recruitment, talent retention and productivity have seen a decline compared to last year. This highlights the ongoing challenges in ensuring that cultural change also translates into consistent business outcomes, and the importance of maintaining momentum to embed lasting improvements.
Ian Heptonstall, Director of Supply Chain Sustainability School said: “This year marks 10 years of the annual FIR Culture Impact Report, a key milestone for the FIR Programme. Over the past decade, the survey has provided valuable insight into where progress is being made and where challenges remain across the built environment industry. These insights have shaped the development of the Programme and helped establish FIR as a trusted voice, driving more fair, inclusive, and respectful workplaces.”
Since launching in 2015, the FIR Programme has worked with partners across the industry to address skills shortages and create more inclusive workplaces, helping to attract and retain a diverse pool of talent. The 2025 report demonstrates how collaboration is continuing to drive meaningful change, while reaffirming the shared commitment to making the built environment a better place to work for all.
For the full report, visit the Supply Chain Sustainability School website here.
