The stereotypical image of construction is changing and so are the people who are attracted to work in our vibrant, fast-paced and challenging industry - and that’s good news.
Demographics in construction have always been male-heavy and an aging workforce has been a talking point for many years. The industry supports the foundations of the nation’s social and economic infrastructure, so it’s important that we future-proof our skills base and draw the next generation of talent from a widely cast net.
Today we celebrate all women working in construction, as well as how the industry is embracing diversity and inclusivity. But there is still a lot to do to encourage more women to work in the sector, and to inspire and support people from diverse backgrounds to forge lasting and rewarding careers in it.
Anna Matare is an industrial placement student at Beard, studying Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management at the University of the West of England. To mark International Women’s Day, Anna shared her experiences as a young woman entering the industry with our Head of People and Culture, Melissa Barber:
How do young women like you perceive the sector and what can we do to encourage more women and people from diverse backgrounds into construction?
At first, it can be intimidating. There are misconceptions of construction as a hostile work environment where the day is long, labour intensive, monotonous and tiring, with limited opportunity for progression. This is certainly not the case, there is such a wide range of professional paths to consider.
We need to break misconceptions about the profession. We need to showcase how interesting working in the sector can be and highlight the potential for career progression. As part of my research before applying to university, this was something that excited and encouraged me.
Considering the historical profile of construction, what do you think equality in the sector should look like?
It means educating older generations on concepts such as stereotypes, micro aggressions and the issues which people from under-represented groups face in the workplace, to allow them the best chance to progress alongside their peers.
ANNA MATARE
Construction Trainee
Women hold senior positions across Beard, including our Heads of Quality & Design Management, IT, Communications, and Human Resources. Women also fill key positions in Design, Estimating, Planning, Bid Management, Business Development and many other roles at Beard.
International Women’s Day is an opportunity for all businesses to affirm their commitment to better the perceptions, but also tackle the stereotypes and the social and economic obstacles facing us on individual, company and industry levels.
At Beard, our commitment to diversity and inclusivity is embedded in our family-friendly policies and practices. While there’s always more that can be done, it’s the true stories of success and the impact that women make in their roles and in our business that remind us that we are making progress.
Our future plans include developing our learning and development programme and launching a social value strategy that will allow us to increase and improve how we engage with school leavers, apprentices, military veterans, career changers and people looking to get back to work.
