RTPI wins Best Industry Institute in the inaugural BPIC awards

We are delighted to announce that the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has won Best Industry Institute in the inaugural Black Professionals in Construction (BPIC) awards. The BPIC Network, host of the BPIC awards, works with industry organisations to improve ethnic minority representation as well as retention. Having recently launched our CHANGE action plan in February 2020 it is an honour to gain recognition for our commitment to improving diverse representation and the advancement of black and ethnic minority professionals.

As 2020 and 2021 were unusual periods, BPIC judges scored nominees on work completed throughout 2020 and 2021, with merits based on an institute or academy's commitment to their programme; evidence of individuals improvement as a result of this institute; work around diversity and inclusion and any other stand-out performance that particularly merits this award – what the BPIC Network call, the ‘BPIC’ factor.

Within the last year to 18 months, we have constantly strived to engage with the big issues of the day, and encouraged our members to do the same. Campaigns such as our Plan the World We Need, Five Reasons for Climate Justice in Spatial Planning and Women and Planning (Part II) showed the BPIC judges that the RTPI is driving change on subjects that matter today.

The diversity of our boards comes as a particular point of note, with the election the first president of Black or Asian heritage in our 107-year history, President Wei Yang.

As if to reflect the progression of our values, we’ve seen a 3% rise in year on year membership growth within the last year, with the majority of members coming through pipeline classes such as student, licentiate and affiliates. We are constantly striving to improve access to the profession by securing government approval for a new Level 4 Town Planning Assistant Apprenticeship.  

It is with great pride that we move into 2022 holding such an important accolade under our belts. We look forward to the oncoming year, with BPIC 2022 set firmly in our sights.

Machel Bogues, RTPI’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity Manager said:

“We are extremely honoured to have received the inaugural BPIC award for Best Industry Institute.

“It is a testament to all the hard work that we, the RTPI, have been doing over the last 12-18 months, from successful launching our Degree Apprenticeship programme, our award winning Plan the World We Need that encourages planning to think not just about climate change but also climate justice, and the strides we have made in terms of  the diversity of our boards capped by the election of President Wei Yang, the first president of Black or Asian heritage in our 107-year history.

“As amazing as it is to have the work of colleagues and teams across the institute recognised it would not have been possible without help of our network partners, BAME Planners Network, Women in Planning, Neurodiversity in Planning and Planning Out. We are grateful for their critical friendship.

“Whilst we celebrate, we know that there is still much work to be done and this award will inspire us to continue that work for a truly inclusive, diverse and equitable profession.”