In Focus…Morgan Ford, Corporate Social Responsibility Graduate at Kier
15th January 2024
The role of Corporate Social Responsibility in Construction
Introducing Morgan Ford from Kier
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a critical consideration for many businesses, but an integral part of the construction industry. As construction firms work on new projects, they have a direct impact on the local communities and neighbourhoods in which they operate in, and the role of CSR construction professionals is to manage these impacts appropriately to minimise disruption while delivering positive impacts for all involved. This week, in our new ‘Spotlight On…’ news feature, we caught up with Morgan Ford from Kier Construction to find out more about what day-to-day CSR work involves in construction, while delving into how the Considerate Constructors Scheme has helped to inform and support the CSR function within her business unit. She discusses the meaning of Corporate Social Responsibility, while sharing some tangible examples of her CSR activities and their positive impact on key CCS goals.
What does Corporate Social Responsibility mean to you as a specialist in this area at Kier, and why is it so important in the construction industry?
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a very broad term that encompasses a range of diverse areas. But for me, the essence of it  comes down to the need to leave a community better off than when we as construction workers entered it. This is particularly important when it comes to the construction industry because our projects are heavily integrated into the community within which they reside in, and often revolve around community spaces. The goal is therefore ultimately to maintain sustainability overall, be it in terms of workforce, education, community, or the environment, to guarantee that high standards are met throughout the construction process
Some examples of Corporate Social Responsibility can include hiring local labour forces, increasing the accessibility of routes into the industry, supporting education and employability initiatives, and local community projects.
In a few words, describe a typical day as a Corporate Social Responsibility Graduate at Kier and why your work is so valuable to local communities at construction sites.
Since Corporate Social Responsibility is so broad, my day-to-day job is really varied! A lot of my work includes emails, meetings, and research. However, I am lucky to also be able to get out of the office on a regular basis. For example, one day, I might be attending a talk about construction in a school, the next, hosting a work experience student on one of our construction sites.
I think our work is so valuable because it really requires us to engage with the local community, assess and listen to their needs, and react adaptively to these. It’s also valuable to the communities we work in by highlighting ourselves as a major local employer that offers several opportunities, including supporting education initiatives. The actual projects we undertake are also in themselves so valuable. We often build critical infrastructure buildings such as schools and hospitals that directly serve the community by their very nature.
Describe how you utilise the Scheme’s Code of Considerate Practice in your daily work as a Corporate Social Responsibility Graduate at Kier.
The Code of Considerate Practice is heavily aligned with our ‘Building for a Sustainable World’ Framework, which outlines our goals and priorities for CSR at Kier. One of the main facets is a highlight of attention on social mobility and diversity, both within our business, but also in the wider construction industry.
Furthermore, I work in conjunction with our wellbeing team to ensure that knowledge of Kier’s mental health initiatives is well distributed throughout the company, aiming to maintain the health and prosperity of our colleagues. The code outlines care and attention to the community, as well as the workforce, both of which are integrated into Kier’s and CCS’s purpose.
How has the Considerate Constructors Scheme helped to positively influence and transform social responsibility standards across Kier construction sites?
The Considerate Constructors Scheme is a useful reinforcement of the values Kier holds and what we ask of our site teams. It has supported us in maintaining a high standard across our sites. As a result of Considerate Constructors Scheme monitoring audits, site teams are required to integrate CSR into their daily work, thereby driving our sustainability frameworks into action.
Having an independent auditor attend and evaluate our performance is a great way to support a moment of reflection. It allows us to consider how things are going on-site, ways in which we can improve, and what has been going well so far.
What initiatives have you been working on at Kier recently to drive positive changes across the  community, the workforce and the environment?
There’s a lot going on at the moment! We have recently launched our Kier Careers Hub for one of our construction sites. This is a six-month programme with one session per month, held in conjunction with the local college. It aims to demonstrate the different roles and responsibilities across the industry and allows access for students to talk to current employees and ask any questions. It has so far proven to be a great initiative to drive our educational engagement and provide some much-needed access to industry professionals.
Our teams have also recently been very busy at supporting the Kier Foundation’s charity partner, the Trussell Trust. In light of the cost-of-living crisis, we have been providing support to critical Foodbanks across the areas that we work in. Many site and office teams have run food drives, and we have also provided providing volunteers to support them during their busy period in the run-up to Christmas.
We have also recently joined the Lighthouse Club as a company supporter. This will help to place a spotlight on mental health in the construction industry and further supports our aim to collaborate to continue to spread the word about the importance of mental health and supporting our workforce to feel comfortable to speak out when they need help.
Do you have any exciting initiatives in the pipeline that will give back to the community and construction workforce as we approach the new year?
Yes! We will be participating in Open Doors in March this year. 10 of the sites in my region will be opening up their site to visits from the local community, including schools and colleges. We will see up to 600 attendees across all our sites! This will be a great event, allowing people to attend a construction site, hear about the industry and its career options, as well as talk to industry professionals. We hope to inspire the new generation of the construction industry by taking part.