October is Black History Month. At Once For All, we celebrate diversity in our colleagues and customers and our Social Value assessment for Main and Subcontractors on Constructionline, a Once For All company, helps contractors to demonstrate their own credentials in that field, enabling them to differentiate from the competition and highlight their strengths.

We recently asked several of our staff and customers what Black History Month means to them:

Victor Amoah, People & Business Support at Once For All said:

As a Learning and Development Adviser, I’m excited to be joining the team at Once For All and diving into the world of construction after having come from a background in retail and corporate real estate.

My first weeks have been incredibly rewarding – meeting great people and continuously learning new things that inspire growth and development. As we celebrate Black History Month, it is a time to reflect on the importance of inclusion and the contributions of Black individuals to our society.

For me, Black History Month is a reminder of the strength that comes from diversity and the power of unity in driving positive change. It’s an opportunity to recognize the rich history and resilience of the Black community, while also committing to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and empowered.

In the words of Maya Angelou, “we all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter their colour.” I look forward to continuing my journey at Once For All, where inclusion and growth are the heart of our success.

 

Eliel Coulibaly, Marketing Intern said:

“I joined the communication team at Once For All with Inès Inserra for my final internship.

I’m originally from Côte d’Ivoire, and I’ve been living in France for seven years now. For me, culture is really important. Back home, we celebrate all cultures every year, and it helps bring people together while letting us discover new ones.

I think diversity, in general, should always be celebrated.
Of course, Black History Month is important to me because it celebrates a part of my history and shines a light on those who fought tirelessly for freedom. But for me, every culture, every story, and every group of people matters, even though some may have made a bigger mark on history than others.

These days, in many companies, this value seems to get lost. We often hear stories of racism and different types of discrimination in some workplaces. But in the six months I’ve been at Once For All, I’ve never felt left out—not me or my colleagues.

Everyone’s culture, background, and identity are respected and welcomed here. It’s really nice to work in an environment where you feel comfortable, and you can tell right away that they make an effort to ensure everyone feels good at work. And that’s something worth applauding!”

 

Meghan Adjei, Management Trainee at Contractor Willmott Dixon said:

“The history of Black communities has been told through lenses that often misrepresent, oversimplify, or entirely overlook the rich and diverse experiences of those who lived it. The theme of this year’s Black History Month is a call for Black communities across the UK to step into the role of storytellers, historians, and custodians of our heritage. It is something our REACH Affinity group have taken on, with the support of others in the Black community within our business, and we did a film that shares their thoughts on Black History Month as part of our aim to shine a brighter light on our stories, allegories, and history.”