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Men in agreement must seek a new view
Construction News hosted the latest face-to-face event in its Inspire Me programme, which aims to help women in construction make career progress into the highest levels of management. Chairing the half-day conference in Birmingham, I was acutely aware that I fell outside the target demographic. But I am at least keen to be part of the solution rather than the problem.
Why ‘men only’ industries can no longer ignore the gender gap
As powerful investors begin to shun firms with workforce gender imbalances, putting pressure on chairman to demonstrate greater accountability, traditionally male-dominated industries are having to react to sweeping calls for change. Josie Cox explores what construction can learn from the cultural sea-change washing through other corporate sectors
Breaking the glass ceiling: How we get more women to the top
Following The first two Inspire Me workshops, Construction News has produced an in-depth report on the findings. With analysis on why there is a lack of women at the top, the work being done by firms to tackle the imbalance, and what more the industry needs to do, the report also examines the gender diversity of the boards of the top 20 contractors
Shatter the myths to bring women into construction
Our Women in Construction report surveyed more than 5,500 workers across the construction, property and engineering industries, and the results were reflective of a sector where just 12 per cent are women.
Inspired in Manchester
This morning CN took its Inspire Me campaign up to Manchester – the first event we’ve put on outside of London for nearly a decade (with many more planned).
Today was the second of four workshops we are putting on across the country this year to help women advance their careers and to get more females into senior leadership roles in the industry.
Rising stars: How we can tackle the skills gap
A panel of the industry’s best new talent came together to offer a unique insight on why construction is struggling to attract young people – and how it can solve the problem.
Skills shortages are a problem that has hung over the construction industry longer than any other.
According to the CITB’s Construction Skills Report, this industry will need to recruit an extra 158,000 workers over the next five years to meet projected workloads – and that’s without taking into account any potential impact of Brexit.
We are not a failures club – so let's prove it
Construction’: what are the public’s first thoughts when they hear that word?
Initial perceptions are generally that of muddy, low-paid manual labour, without any ambitions or aspirations. More recently, this has contributed to create a picture of the industry as something of a ‘failures club’.
But from what I can see as a female subcontractor, we are an important and unique sector, yet our talents are underrated and underappreciated. Nearly everything that surrounds the built environment depends on us, yet there is little appreciation for the individuals who power the industry.
Shocked, shaken, shut out: Women react to the gender pay gap
Construction has the largest gender pay gap of any UK industry. But behind the data, why is this issue business-critical and what do the experiences of women in the sector reveal about the challenges we must tackle? Lucy Alderson investigates.
Men make up around 87 per cent of the construction industry’s workforce so if you’re reading this, it’s likely you’re in the overwhelming majority.
Beast from the east fails to dampen first Inspire Me workshop
More than 80 attendees battled through atrocious ‘beast from the east’ weather conditions to attend CN’s first Inspire Me workshop this week at London’s Sofitel Hotel.
Delegates heard from industry luminaries on the obstacles facing women who seek leadership roles in the sector.
Calling all men: Do women have an ally in you?
London’s Sofitel Hotel played host this morning to the first workshop for CN’s Inspire Me campaign, which aims to encourage and support women into industry leadership roles.
It was fantastic to see such a strong turnout, particularly in the face of wretched weather conditions.
Inspire Me: CN campaign launches in London
Something very unusual happened yesterday evening at the launch party of Construction News’ Inspire Me campaign.
It wasn’t a typical construction event, where you would usually see a sea of suits and ties when scanning the room of guests. After all, men account for roughly 87 per cent of the industry.
Wilmott Dixon statement
We know our industry is facing up to a skills shortage. It is a crisis that has been relevant for the last five years.
But the impending prospect of Brexit, the improving economic fortunes of our European neighbours, the ageing profile of our skilled trades and the industry’s lack of diversity are building up to a perfect storm.
Why ‘men only’ industries can no longer ignore the gender gap
Rebecca Owens had just started her final year at a top-rated UK university when she began seriously considering her career options. She was one of only a handful of women on her engineering course, and on track to graduate with a first-class degree.
Sarah Fenton Statement
The challenges facing the construction industry will be familiar to regular readers of Construction News; these include an ageing workforce, a shortage of trained and skilled workers, and potential migration restrictions.
CITB estimates that 168,500 new workers need to be employed over the next five years to meet growing demand.
John Boughton Statement
Our industry has come a long way since I first joined as a young building technician in 1993. Back then terms such as ‘diversity’ or ‘gender balanced teams’ did not figure much on construction sites or in management vocabulary.
How far we have come! Fast forward 26 years and it really does feel like a different world. Change is happening at a quick rate as we all recognise that achieving gender parity will make us a better, more sustainable industry for our people and customers.