A free industry guide has been launched with the aim of attracting more women into the UK construction industry.
The online Inclusive Value Tool has been delivered by Sir Robert McAlpine, Construction Scotland Innovation Centre, Equate Scotland and City of Glasgow College. The firms said that the tool will look to assist employers and the industry in creating a more ‘inclusive and diverse’ workplace.
As it stands, women make up just 15% of the UK construction sector and only 2% of manual trade workers. According to the trade union, GMB, it will take almost 200 years to achieve gender equality in the construction sector.
Construction Scotland Innovation Centre said that construction employers are ‘keen’ to see more women in the sector, but aren’t always sure of what actions to take to address the gender imbalance. They added that the industry guide will look to help address that.
Douglas Morrison, director of operations and future skills at Construction Scotland Innovation Centre, said, “For many companies, survival, improved productivity and long-term growth will be underpinned by attracting and retaining the best talent. This guide is intended as a signpost towards those who have already successfully created inclusive and high performing workplaces. It’s time to modernise and it’s time to diversify”.
Talat Yaqoob, director of Equate Scotland, said, “If the industry chooses to, it can use this period of change to create new ways of working and open the industry up to women and other underrepresented groups. Covid-19 will have an impact on every sector in our economy, but when the doors to industry re-open we cannot return to the status quo, we must build back better – this toolkit is a way for construction companies to do just that.”
Employers and training providers can access the Inclusive Value Tool and guide by clicking here.
