Vistry colleagues should feel proud of discussing diversity says Black History Month speaker

The founder of a sustainability consultancy firm who spoke as part of Vistry Group’s Black History Month celebrations says it is vital for people of all ethnic backgrounds to ‘be in the room’ to discuss diversity.

Darren Evans, of low carbon construction specialists Darren Evans Ltd, addressed Vistry colleagues – as part of Vistry’s month-long BHM programme – highlighting improvements in his children’s upbringing compared to his in the UK.

The father-of-four said regardless of colleagues’ heritage, conversations around race and inequality needed to continue and companies like Vistry could do more.

Darren, of Jamaican heritage, said: “Companies can raise the profile of black people within their business, helping them to tell their story, particularly to young people at school level – and it needs to be junior school not just secondary or college. Businesses also need to use their leverage to urge the education system to teach and include black people in history lessons at school. That will help younger children from different backgrounds see themselves in high positions and the contributions that were made – whether as inventors or influencers in history – and inspire them.”

Darren added that Martin Luther King was his inspiration, but also his mum, who had instilled in him strong values and helped him identify the sort of person he wanted to be when he was older. Facing racism growing up, which included stones being thrown at him on walks home – affecting the times of day he would leave the house – he said his faith and sport helped add value and meaning to his life. 

The former rugby and football player, and sprinter, said all Vistry colleagues needed to be involved to improve inclusion in the workplace going forward. 

“My children’s view of what is possible to them, is far broader than my view of what was possible for me,” he added. “The ability that my children have to go about their business and do their thing or show who they are – on social media or anything else – is much different. I had to be very measured and sometimes calculated about what I did and where I did things, including what time in the evening I went out.

“Wondering whether you can make any difference as a white person is really destructive. Just because you haven’t felt racism as a carbon copy, doesn’t mean you’re not of value and you shouldn’t be in the room to discuss it. Nobody should be embarrassed of being in the room – they should be proud and support everyone who’s in the room with them. Everyone is needed.”

Darren, who watched TV programme Captain Planet when young and thought there should be more eco conversations, realised in 2007 that there would be an issue in the built environment around sustainability. 

He saw very traditional approaches in the industry and that the carbon agenda would change the way homeowners and workers live. He worked to fill this gap by offering advice and solutions and uses the Zulu greeting Sawubona, which means seeing someone for who they are and want to become. It’s part of a wider ethos that puts love, trust and collaboration at the heart of the community.

Hosting the BHM event alongside Vistry’s Diversity and Inclusion Working Group lead Tara Hart, was Housebuilding Kent MD Brendan Evans.

Brendan came to the UK in 1999 from Zimbabwe, before starting school, attending university and beginning his accountancy career in construction. Moving from south London, he later joined Bovis Homes in 2017, as finance director, in New Ash Green. The father-of-two said family was vital to staying grounded and that Liverpool football stars inspired him to be a success.

“My mother’s always been our guiding light, she’s given the whole family direction,” Brendan said. “As a father with two young girls, I feel the family unit is where you learn things you take with you your whole life, to keep you on the right path. I’m a football fan as well and my role models were John Barnes and Bruce Grobbelaar – I’ve always supported Liverpool because of them.”

Brendan added that unconscious bias was always present in and outside of work and it was how you dealt with it on the receiving end that was important – by educating and being open.

The theme for Black History Month this year is ‘Time for Change: Action not Words’. The Diversity & Inclusion Working Group’s ‘Culture & Communities Network’ has been celebrating Black History Month throughout October. This week is ‘Music Week’. See the Network’s Black History Month page for more on how to engage.

Find out more: www.vistrygroup.co.uk