Archetech - Page 154

Looking back to 1988 , less than 7 % of the full-time construction industry workforce in Britain were women . By 1995 , the Equal Opportunities Commission stated in its annual publication that women continue to be significantly under-represented particularly in the construction sector .

The situation is improving with wages rising , albeit slowly , and the proportion of women in senior roles has almost trebled since 2005 , providing some hope that the misconceptions around construction being a gender-specific industry are at last being removed . But , a survey by Randstad in 2018 discovered that out of 1,200 people that have experienced gender discrimination ( 33 %), 60 % were women , and more than eight in ten women feel left out and excluded from male-oriented conversations and social events . Not only are these figures disturbing , but the survey revealed 43 % of organisations do not actively monitor pay equality .

Encouragingly , there are parts of the industry that have recognised the urgent need to address these inequalities , and we at London Build 2018 are a part of that drive . We ’ ve been hosting our Women in Construction Networking Event for two years now , and are thrilled that through the growing support from industry , we are able to offer inspiring leaders the platform to encourage and inspire the younger generation and more women to challenge the barriers to entry and aspire to a more diverse workforce .

At last year ’ s event , we worked with NAWIC , Built by Both , Women in Property , the Federation of Master Builders and many

more key industry figures , registering 1,150 female visitors to the session . We aim to make this year ’ s event to be even bigger and remain the UK ’ s largest gathering of women working in construction !

This year , we ’ ve partnered again with NAWIC , and are delighted that Women in BIM ( WiB ) and many other industry leading bodies have come on board to bring this free-to-attend event for all , offering the chance for professional individuals operating in this market to network and feel inspired . Not only will we have a great supply of refreshments , but you ’ ll hear from a panel of established female experts discussing the untapped opportunities for women , get any of your questions answered , and to network .

However , we are taking our commitment to shine a light on our women in construction one step further this year by creating our Women in Construction Ambassador community .

By joining us , you ’ ll attend the morning tea networking event and meet with our selected group of Ambassadors , allowing you to not only strengthen and build your existing network of contacts but to become part of a more significant community of like-minded business leaders . Also , we would encourage you to share your experiences and best practice with aspiring minds and demonstrate the exceptional opportunities a career in construction can offer .

It ’ s essential for us to tell the many fantastic career stories within the industry and hear from inspiring women on what they have achieved and how they can motivate others to follow a similar path to success . So , what more of a reason do you need to come along and be a part of our community ?

The Women in Construction Morning Tea is taking place on 24th October at 10:00am- 12:00pm in the Built Environment Networking Hub . Register for your free tickets now : www . londonbuildexpo . com / wic

And if you ’ re interested in getting behind us to drive equality and diversity in the built environment as a Women in Construction Ambassador , simply get in touch with the team at wic @ londonbuildexpo . com .

Written by Costello Palmer Communications , Lead PR Partner for London Build .