Why supplier diversity matters: Empowering female-owned businesses in the built environment sector

The built environment is more than bricks and mortar - it’s a reflection of the values and voices we choose to elevate. Yet historically, women-owned, and other underrepresented businesses, have faced systemic barriers to participation in construction, architecture, engineering, and related industries. Advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion within the supply chain isn’t just a moral imperative – it’s a business need and a critical step toward creating spaces that truly serve and reflect the communities they inhabit. By intentionally engaging diverse suppliers - including women-owned businesses - we cultivate innovation, drive economic empowerment, and help reshape an industry that too often overlooks those outside the dominant narrative. In this blog, we explore why supplier diversity is essential to building not just structures, but a more just and inclusive society.

Supplier diversity: More than a box to tick

Supplier diversity isn’t about tokenism - it’s about unlocking value.

When organisations open their procurement pipelines to underrepresented business owners, they gain access to new ideas, resilient partnerships, and a supply chain that reflects the society we live in, whilst also future proofing the industry.

Here are some of the reasons why supplier diversity is beneficial to the built environment sector:

• Stimulates economic growth in underserved communities Partnering with diverse suppliers - such as women-owned and minority-owned businesses - helps drive economic development by expanding market opportunities, creating jobs, and improving quality of life in underrepresented areas.

• Increases service quality through healthy competition A more diverse supplier base introduces greater competition, leading to better pricing, improved service offerings, and a wider range of innovative ideas tailored to construction challenges.

• Drives innovation across the supply chain Diverse suppliers often bring fresh perspectives and creative problem-solving approaches, helping construction companies adopt more efficient, forward-thinking practices and technologies.

• Reduces supply chain risks Relying on a varied pool of suppliers protects against disruptions, ensuring your projects stay on track even when facing unexpected delays or shortages.

• Enhances brand reputation and demonstrates social responsibility Embracing supplier diversity signals a commitment to equity and inclusion, boosting your brand’s image and building trust with clients, partners, and communities who share those values. This is particularly important when tendering for public sector work.

  
  

Case study: The Tap Specialist

In 2020, just 6% of SME employers were led by women in the construction sector, we spoke to Hannah Freeman, Founder of The Tap Specialist who launched her business during the COVID pandemic.

“I launched The Tap Specialist during the COVID pandemic, amid IVF and a career pivot from digital marketing. As a female founder navigating this transition — and as someone who experiences the world through an ADHD lens — I saw an opportunity to build a business that worked differently. One that was flexible, inclusive, and grounded in real life. We built a model that embraces agility, empathy, and smart systems - not outdated assumptions about how people should work.

Today, we’re proud to be the UK’s leading online retailer of boiling water taps and kitchen tap solutions. We’ve grown by working smarter - and differently.

We’ve always believed that how we work is just as important as what we deliver.

As a female-founded SME operating in a sector where women-led businesses remain underrepresented, we’re proud to be part of a growing movement that’s reshaping the built environment.

So how has The Tap Specialist built her successful business?

“We were clear from the start that we wanted to approach work differently, and this is how:

• 100% remote-first: Our team includes working parents, neurodiverse professionals, and people seeking balance, not burnout, in their working life.

• 8am–8pm customer support: Because the modern workday doesn’t end at 4pm

• Caring for the planet as well as people: all our deliveries are carbon neutral

• Agile, values-driven hiring: We prioritise lived experience, adaptability, and empathy

• Industry disruptors: We set out to prove that female-owned businesses can lead boldly in the built environment”

Hannah was keen to share that their commitment to supplier diversity included collaborations with companies that share their values:

“Our boiling water taps and filter taps are sustainable by design - reducing the need for kettles and helping households cut down on plastic waste by replacing bottled water with clean, filtered alternatives.

Accessibility is central to our product offering. We stock Accessible Zip Hydrotaps, thoughtfully designed for home and workplace environments. These taps are suitable for visually impaired individuals, wheelchair users, and those with limited dexterity, featuring easy-to-use controls and clear visual indicators. It’s all part of our mission to ensure everyone can enjoy the benefits of filtered, instant boiling and chilled water — independently and safely.

But our commitment to sustainability and wellbeing doesn’t stop at the products.

We actively collaborate with brands that share our values, running promotions and giveaways that spotlight purpose-led innovation and inclusive wellness.

We proudly support:

• Promotions with sustainable and self-care brands like Urban Veda and Healf

• Support for female-led health brands like Knack Snacks

• Partnerships with UK manufacturers like Ellsi, championing local production and circular supply chains

• Collaborations with inclusive creators like @TheSmithStory, sharing their journey as a modern LGBT+ family

• Partnering and promoting to our trade clients: Nemi Teas, a specialist tea company offering organic & Fairtrade blends while providing employment to refugees in the UK

  
  

We know that creating a better built environment isn’t just about what’s installed - it’s about who and what we elevate along the way.”

Check out The Tap Specialist website www.thetapspecialist.co.uk or contact Hannah at info@thetapspecialist.co.uk 

Procurement teams: Now is the time to lead the change

Procurement teams have the power to drive real, lasting change. Inclusive procurement is more than a trend - it’s a business imperative that supports innovation, resilience, and social value. To embed supplier diversity meaningfully, it's essential to move beyond statements of intent and toward practical, measurable actions.

Here’s how you can start leading the change:

• Audit your current supplier base Understand who you’re working with today. Are women-owned, minority-owned, and other diverse businesses represented? If not, identify the gaps and the reasons behind them.

• Set measurable supplier diversity targets Define clear, achievable goals to increase engagement with diverse suppliers - whether by spend percentage, number of contracts, or geographic reach.

• Broaden your supplier outreach - Go beyond traditional networks. Attend supplier diversity events, work with industry directories, and actively seek out underrepresented businesses.

• Embed EDI into your procurement policies Ensure equity, diversity, and inclusion are built into your procurement criteria and supplier onboarding processes - not treated as an afterthought.

• Track progress and hold your team accountable Establish benchmarks and regularly report on progress toward supplier diversity goals. Transparency drives accountability and continuous improvement.

• Invest in long-term partnerships Supporting diverse suppliers isn’t just about contracts - it’s about mentorship, collaboration, and helping them scale sustainably.

  
  

By taking these steps, you’re not only making your supply chain more inclusive - you’re helping to shape a fairer and more dynamic built environment industry.

Building better through inclusive procurement

At Constructing Rainbows, we specialise in helping organisations across the built environment activate and embed supplier diversity. Our services include:

• Supplier diversity assessments and benchmarking

• Strategy and policy development

• Tailored training for procurement teams

• Inclusive supplier outreach support

• Monitoring and impact reporting frameworks

Partner with us to turn your procurement goals into meaningful outcomes. Together, we can build a supply chain - and an industry - that reflects and uplifts the communities we serve.