*Main image supplied by Women into Construction
An independent not-for-profit organisation, Women into Construction (WiC) is driven by one key ambition: support motivated and trained women to join the industry, thereby reducing the skills gaps and creating greater gender equality.
“Companies are recognising the positive aspects of having a more diverse workforce,” Kath Moore MBE, Managing Director at WiC, says. “We are certainly seeing changes in attitudes towards diversity within the construction industry, but there is still work to be done for the sector to become fully inclusive. With construction output continuing to grow, and skills shortages exacerbated by both Covid-19 and Brexit, targeting women will widen the talent pool.”
Moore began her career, aged 19, as a trainee carpenter working on new-build and renovation projects. She later launched her own carpentry and joinery business, taught carpentry in further education, and launched WiC. In 2018, she received an MBE for services to the construction industry.
“Diversity – from gender diversity to culture, age and race – has been shown to foster creativity and innovation,” Moore says. “Men and women will inevitably have different experiences and backgrounds, which shape their approach to business. Challenging each other and collaborating with people who think differently can encourage creativity and promote the innovative ideas that push organisations forward.” Diversity also brings higher profits. Gender-diverse companies are 21% more likely to have above-average profi tability, Moore reveals.
How Women into Construction can improve your diversity
WiC, says Moore, is well-positioned to help companies bring about real change in gender diversity through targeted services tailored to the needs of construction industry clients, developers, contractors, further education colleges, universities, apprenticeship providers, local authorities as well as employment and skills providers. More specifically, WiC offers the following support:
- Bespoke short employment programmes – working directly with contractors to deliver a month of tailored training for up to 15 potential female recruits and find them work-placements and jobs on site.
- Seconded WiC Project Managers – providing contractors with a WiC expert embedded in their organisations to support their diversity programmes on site.
- WiC subcontract entry to employment programmes – providing contractors with WiC expertise to set up, manage and deliver an agreed programme of support to meet S106 or diversity targets for a construction site or wider programme.
- The WiC Moving on Up programme – helping companies to retain and progress women in their business, providing a greater understanding of what to tackle to reduce their gender pay gap and how to do it.
Moving on Up
- Provides assistance to improve supervisory and leadership skills;
- Gives direct support for women within the business to progress their careers; and
- Supports companies to demonstrate their positive actions on gender diversity for new tenders and positive public relations.
“We have had a lot of interest in the Moving on Up programme,” says Moore. “Our original pilot was very well received by both companies and participating women, demonstrating appreciable benefits to all participants. The programme is offering £7,500 worth of corporate training for up to four participants for just £750 per company.”
The Moving on Up pilot programme in 2020 delivered a social return on investment of £2.55 for every £1 invested. The programme is currently London-based only. To find out more, visit www.women-into-construction.org.
This article was originally published in the February / March 2022 edition of the Master Builder magazine. Members can login to view a copy, non-members can request the latest copy via email.
