Why we’re asking for your personal data

At CIOB, we are committed to fostering a built environment sector that is welcoming, representative, and accessible for everyone. As part of this commitment, we’re collecting expanded personal demographic data from our members through our newly updated Membership Portal. This is a crucial step towards understanding who our members are and how we can better support you. 

What data are we asking for?

We’re specifically asking for data on personal characteristics as defined by the UK's Equality Act 2010, which are not currently captured during the formal membership registration process. This includes information on:

• disability
• race
• gender reassignment
• religion or belief, and
• sexual orientation.

This is in addition to existing questions we ask about age and gender. For members who identify as disabled, we are also asking about any reasonable adjustments they might require to fully participate in and benefit from their membership.

Who are we asking?

We are currently collecting data on our members residing in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Collecting diversity data globally is complex due to varying legal and regulatory environments, as well as different cultural understandings and terminology used to describe personal characteristics across countries. By starting with our UK and Ireland members, we can ensure a consistent approach while we explore how to collect meaningful data in an international context in the future.

Why are we asking for this information now?

Collecting accurate data helps us create a clear, comprehensive picture of the diversity within our membership and the wider built environment sector. 

The characteristics we are collecting data on have been aligned with those collected by the other partners under the BE Inclusive partnership, including ICE, RIBA, RICS, RTPI and LI. This will allow us to aggregate anonymised data from across the industry, revealing a wider picture of the industry makeup.

We also have a legal responsibility under the Equality Act 2010 to ensure we don’t discriminate based on “protected characteristics”. It also requires us to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people. Collecting this data helps us ensure we are complying with these legal requirements and acting in accordance with best practice.

Ultimately, the data will help us analyse the impact of our policies and practices to ensure that working in the built environment sector is a positive experience for all members.

What will we do with the data?

The insights gained from this aggregated data will be used to:

• identify gaps in representation and inform appropriate actions to address them
• inform equality analysis to ensure our actions align with best practice
• track progress over time, and
• identify reasonable adjustments required in respect of accessible service delivery.

The results of this comparative analysis will be incorporated into our annual membership reporting to ensure transparency.

How will this benefit members?

By understanding the diverse make-up of our membership and identifying areas of under-representation or potential barriers, we can:

• develop targeted actions to address identified issues
• tailor our services and support to better meet the needs of all members
• ensure we are providing necessary reasonable adjustments for disabled members
• work collaboratively with our partners towards a built environment sector that is more inclusive, accessible, and fair for everyone, and
• show transparency to prospective talent about what it's like to work in the sector.

What if I don’t want to share my data?

Providing this information is optional, and we understand that some members may not wish to disclose this data. For this reason, we have included a “Prefer not to say” option for each question. Your decision whether or not to share this information will have no impact on your membership or the services you receive.

Ensuring confidentiality

All the answers you provide will be treated as strictly confidential, with the data stored securely and handled strictly within the terms of data protection legislation, including compliance with UK GDPR principles.

Your answers will only be accessible to a very limited number of colleagues who are responsible for analysing the data at the aggregated level. We will never share your personal data that identifies you either directly or indirectly with any third parties. 

Any external sharing, such as in reports, will only be of aggregated or anonymous data sets. 

Where can I update my details?

Members can update their personal information at any time by logging into the Portal using the login button in the top-right of the page, or clicking here.

Have more questions?

If you have any further questions or wish to provide feedback on this data collection exercise, please do not hesitate to get in touch by emailing [email protected].