Overview
The Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) course suite was developed by the Sustainability School and partially funded by CITB. It provides practical guidance to help businesses across the construction industry create more inclusive workplaces where everyone can thrive. By embedding FIR into everyday practices, organisations can strengthen their ability to attract, recruit, train and retain talent, helping to address the industry’s skills shortage while meeting the growing expectations of clients and supply chain partners. The courses cover key aspects of inclusive working, from recruitment and leadership to flexible working, disability awareness and creating inclusive sites, supporting a more diverse, respectful and successful built environment sector.
When you access the course, you get access to:
- The interactive online course material
Who is it for?
- This course is for everyone
- You need to be able to read and understand English to a good standard
Course
What's covered?
FIR on Site: why it Matters and how to achieve it
This 60-minute module introduces the principles of Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) and explores their importance across the construction industry. It also provides practical guidance on delivering the four FIR Toolbox Talks, helping learners communicate key messages and encourage more inclusive behaviours in the workplace.
Setting up and Inclusive Site and Site Office
This 60-minute module explores practical measures for creating a site and site office that promotes safety, security and inclusion. Learners will consider how the working environment can be adapted to meet the needs of a diverse workforce and help ensure everyone feels safe, respected and able to carry out their role effectively.
Understanding Non-Visible Disabilities
This 60-minute course develops understanding of non-visible disabilities, building on learners’ existing knowledge and experience. It explores how these disabilities may affect people in the workplace and provides practical guidance for supporting employees and job applicants. The content is particularly relevant to line managers, supervisors, team leaders and HR professionals who want to create a more accessible, inclusive and supportive working environment.
Achieving Business Success Through Fairness, Inclusion and Respect
This 60-minute module explores the principles of Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) and their relevance to the construction industry. It examines how these principles influence workplace culture, employee relationships and business practices, highlighting the benefits of creating an environment where everyone is treated fairly, valued and respected.
Procuring a Diverse Workforce
This 30-minute module explores how procurement can help promote diversity across the workforce and supply chain. It examines the distinction between supplier diversity and workforce diversity, introducing practical procurement approaches that organisations can use to encourage more diverse participation and create opportunities for a wider range of businesses and individuals.
Recruiting People Fairly and Inclusively
This 90-minute module examines the recruitment journey from start to finish, highlighting opportunities to embed fairness, inclusion and respect at every stage. Learners will explore how recruitment practices can be made more accessible and equitable, helping organisations attract and select candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds.
Inclusive Recruitment for SME’s
Welcome to this 60-minute e-learning module exploring how to make recruitment more inclusive in small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). Designed for businesses that may not have a dedicated HR team, this module offers practical guidance to help you attract and select candidates through recruitment processes that promote fairness, inclusion and respect.
Inclusive Attraction
Developed in collaboration with National Highways, this 60-minute module explores ways to attract candidates from a broader range of backgrounds and experiences. It focuses on inclusive recruitment strategies, including how to create job adverts that appeal to diverse applicants and help remove barriers to employment. The content is intended for anyone involved in recruitment, particularly small and medium-sized businesses without dedicated HR support.
Inclusive Selection
Developed in collaboration with National Highways, this 60-minute module explores how to make recruitment decisions in a fair, inclusive and consistent way. It is designed for anyone involved in hiring, with a particular focus on supporting small and medium-sized businesses that may not have dedicated HR expertise. Learners will gain practical insights into recruitment practices that help widen access to opportunities and support a more diverse workforce.
Flexible Working
This 30-minute module explores different approaches to flexible working and the benefits they can offer to employees and employers. It considers how businesses can introduce flexible working arrangements to meet individual needs, support staff wellbeing and create a more adaptable and productive working environment.
Managing Challenging Conversations
This 60-minute module explores how to approach difficult conversations through a Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) lens, with an emphasis on addressing behaviours and workplace interactions rather than performance management. It is designed for people managers, team leaders and those who work with stakeholders across the construction and built environment sectors. The content is also relevant to HR professionals, employee representatives and FIR Ambassadors, offering practical insights applicable to organisations of all sizes, including clients, principal contractors and supply chain partners.
Leading People Inclusively
This 30-minute, advanced Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) module explores how leaders can adopt inclusive leadership practices to support their teams, value individual differences and create a positive working environment where everyone can contribute and succeed.
Race and Intercultural Competence – Part 1
The 60-minute module is the first module in this two-part series and explores how to strengthen teamwork by developing the confidence and skills needed to communicate and collaborate with colleagues from diverse cultural backgrounds. Learners will consider how greater cultural awareness can build understanding, improve working relationships and support more effective collaboration.
Race and Intercultural Competence – Part 2
This second, 60-minute module in a two-part series will equip teams to work more collaboratively by building employees’ confidence to engage with people of different cultural backgrounds.
Engaging a Diverse Supply Chain
A 60-minute introductory module exploring how to engage a diverse supply chain, understand supplier diversity, and recognise the benefits of inclusive procurement.
Community Engagement
This 60-minute module explores how community engagement can support local economic growth, improve quality of life and benefit communities during and after construction projects.
What are the benefits of learning online?
- Return to the course as many times as you like, it will remember and track your progress
What's included?
- Access to the online course
- It provides further information to support your learning
Exam
Does this course have an exam?
This training plan does not have an exam.
Technical
What do I need to complete the interactive course?
To complete the interactive course, you will need a reliable Internet connection and a desktop computer, laptop or standard-sized tablet (eCourses is not currently supported on mobile handsets).
Minimum requirements for the course
- Operating system: Windows, Apple or Android
- Processor: 3 GHz
- RAM: 2 GB
- Broadband speed: 512 kbps
- Screen resolution: 1024 by 768
- The most recent version of Chrome, Edge, or Firefox
More
What should I consider before I start?
Do I have the equipment I need?
- To complete an eCourse we recommend that you use a desktop computer, laptop or standard-sized tablet (not a smartphone)
What do I do if I don't have the right equipment?
- If you don’t have access to the necessary equipment, please consider CITB’s remote training option or a classroom course delivered by our approved training organisations.
This course is grant eligible?
No, as this is a free course no grant can be claimed.
