A FAMILY-run Oxfordshire building firm features in a ground-breaking report showing how a diverse workforce leads to higher productivity.

Employing people on their abilities - regardless of sex, race, disability or age - brings big rewards, according to a new guide on how to promote diversity, produced jointly by the CBI and the TUC.

Oakwood Joinery, of Benson, is one of 12 businesses of all sizes - including multinationals like IBM and GSK - highlighted in the report for developing a more diverse workforce.

Its 35-strong workforce contains five women and workers from several different ethnic backgrounds, with ages ranging from 17 to 66.

By taking this approach, Oakwood says it has has been able to expand, even though there's a notorious shortage of skilled building workers in Oxfordshire.

Managing director Tim Fenn said some of his staff had been turned down for jobs by others, even though their work was good. He said he wanted Oakwood to be known first for the quality of its craftsmanship, and didn't deliberately employ people who broke the mould.

"I didn't set out to do anything differently. I needed skilled workers and people came through the door needing jobs.

"I looked at whether they could do the work to the standard I wanted, and if they were keen, and that was it".

He added: "You're only as good as your people. If you can learn to look for ability and identify potential, and see past anything else, you can choose the right people.

"You then have to put in place good training and appraisal systems for monitoring and recognising performance. That way, you get a really strong team who will go the extra mile when you need it, because they know you value them."

Oakwood recently won a contract to build a £2.5m eco-house, which he says is an endorsement of how well the team works and the quality of its work, as well as the company's commitment to environmental sustainability.

Mr Fenn was at the launch of the report on Tuesday with CBI director-general Richard Lambert and the general secretary of the TUC, Brendan Barber, Trevor Phillips, chair of the Equality & Human Rights Commission, and the Minister for Women and Equality, Harriet Harman.