Women in Construction: Innovation and Leadership in the Built Environment

Gold Partner:

According to The Office for National Statistics (ONS), women comprise just 15.8% of the construction workforce and only 2% of workers onsite (2023). This demonstrates the significant challenges that remain in the recruitment, retention and progression of women in the industry. Despite this, women continue to make up a growing proportion of the sector and are making strides in becoming leaders in their field. Supporting women in overcoming barriers to representation is vital for improving equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the sector and will play a vital role in tackling the industry’s skills shortage.

• Construction ranks lowest of all UK employment sectors in gender parity (Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), 2023)
• 224,900 additional workers are needed to meet UK construction demand between now and 2027 (The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), 2023)
• The number of women as a proportion of the overall construction workforce has increased by 36.9% since 2012 (ONS, 2022)

Join us at Women in Construction: Innovation and Leadership in the Built Environment to hear the latest guidance from industry leaders on empowering women and tackling sector-specific barriers to gender equality. High-level keynotes will provide guidance on creating an inclusive workplace culture in male-dominated environments, followed by case studies demonstrating best practice in tackling barriers to recruitment, retention and progression of female staff. Key topics include creating a positive workplace culture, supporting colleagues going through menopause and attracting younger female applicants. A breakout networking session then offers the opportunity to share your challenges and solutions whilst networking with senior colleagues across the sector.

Why Attend:
✓Insights into Gender Equality in Construction: Gain an overview of current trends and challenges in achieving gender parity within the construction industry

✓Promoting Diversity through Sustainability: Discover methods for engaging female applicants with roles in sustainability, contributing to environmental and social goals.

✓Confidence Building Initiatives: Learn about programs designed to support women in returning to work after career breaks, fostering confidence and skill development

✓Recruitment and Retention Strategies: Explore inclusive recruitment and onboarding practices aimed at attracting and retaining top talent from diverse backgrounds

✓Inclusive Health and Safety Practices: Learn about gender-specific safety procedures and equipment, as well as strategies for empowering female professionals with on-the-job training to ensure workplace safety

✓Enhance your Professional Development: 8 CPD points towards your yearly quota

For more information please call 0330 058 4285

• 09.00

  Online Registration

• 09.50

  Chair’s Opening Remarks 

  Emma Richman, National Vice Chair, Women in Property (CONFIRMED)

  

   

• 10.00

  Keynote: Elevating Women: Overcoming Barriers to Gender Equality in Construction

  This presentation explores the current trends and challenges in achieving gender parity in construction, including the latest policies and funding to support women, strategies for re-entry into the workforce, recommendations for attracting female talent, and workplace strategies for LGBTQ+ and neurodiverse female colleagues.

  • Overview of current trends and challenges in reaching gender parity in construction
  • Updates on the latest policies and funding to support women at work and create flexible employment opportunities
  • Supporting women in returning to work following career breaks through confidence-building initiatives
  • Recommendations for attracting female talent and ensuring hiring processes are fair and inclusive
  • Workplace strategies for identifying and meeting the needs of LGBTQ+ and neurodiverse female colleagues

  Gillian Unsworth, Deputy Director, Gender Equality Division, Cabinet Office (CONFIRMED)

  

   

• 10.20

  Keynote: Construction and ESG: Why Focusing on Retaining Women in Construction Might Improve Business Profitability 

  This session will provide commercially centered view regarding the interface between policy offerings which bolster the attraction and retention of women in construction organisations and an increase in business profitability.

  In particular, it will explore:

  • The Decline of women in construction based roles (as reported by the Office for National Statistics)
  • Why instability (arising from insolvency stats) and workplace pressure (arising from project delays, project risks and project related disputes) may have contributed to the reduced number of women working in construction in 2024 and the overarching skills gap
  • How the skills shortage in the sector could be improved through better policy offerings concerning the retention of women in construction
  • Why a greater focus on the retention of women in construction can provide better opportunities to secure tenders and improve business profitability within the sector (particularity from an ESG perspective)

  Olivia Jenkins, Co-Chair, National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) (Midlands) and Senior Associate Solicitor, Trowers & Hamlins LLP (CONFIRMED)

  

  

   

• 10.40

  Question and Answers 

• 11.00

  Comfort Break

• 11.15

  Keynote: Embedding Diversity and Inclusion into the Heart of Construction

  Outlining a comprehensive action plan for enhancing representation and setting clear organizational ambitions on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), emphasizing leadership engagement, inclusive workplace culture development, strategies for transparency and accountability, and tips for challenging alienating language and practices.

  • Guidance for designing an action plan for improving representation and setting clear organisational ambitions on EDI
  • Engaging leadership with EDI principles to champion diversity and demonstrate commitments to inclusivity
  • Tips for creating an inclusive workplace culture that challenges alienating language and practices for female staff
  • Strategies for effective transparency and accountability on progress to identify and meet future areas for improvement

  Mark Harrison, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Transformation, The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) (CONFIRMED)

  

   

• 11:35

  Case Study: Recruitment and Retention: Strategies for Attracting and Retaining Diverse Talent

  This presentation will delve into the essential aspects of recruitment and retention with a focus on strategies for attracting and retaining diverse talent.

  We will explore the importance of building an inclusive recruitment process that reaches a broad range of candidates and will examine the role of bias mitigation in the hiring process, ensuring all candidates are evaluated fairly and equitably.   We will also cover retention strategies such as mentorship and development opportunities.  Finally, we’ll highlight the importance of continuous feedback loops and employee networks in maintaining an inclusive culture that supports long-term retention and engagement

  Anna Sirmoglou, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager, Mott Macdonald (CONFIRMED)

  

   

• 11.55

  Case Study: ‘Thinking Differently’ about the next generation of new entrants to the construction and built environment industry

  As part of our ‘Thinking Differently’ project funded by Wates Family Enterprise Trust, we are examining how the construction and built environment sector attracts, recruits, and retains diverse young talent by collecting feedback from young people and working with employers to test different youth-led approaches to attraction, recruitment, and retention. ​The project will help to re-image how we can tackle the hidden barriers that prevent disadvantaged young people from diverse backgrounds entering and succeeding in construction and the built environment. Currently, we have consulted with over 600 young people (and a small number of parents). We sought out young people’s feedback through focus groups, developed pilots from this feedback, and evaluated their impact.

  Emma Barnes, Construction Youth Trust (CONFIRMED)

  

   

• 12.15

  Questions and Answers 

• 12.35

  Lunch Break

• 13.10

  Panel Discussion: Succeeding in Male-Dominated Environments and Progressing into Leadership

  • Boosting the confidence of female professionals through dedicated feedback and guidance
  • Creating opportunities for female senior leaders to offer allyship and mentorship to junior female colleagues
  • Tips for overcoming imposter syndrome and recognising your strengths
  • Improving internal processes to tackle implicit biases and stereotypes that hinder women from succeeding in the workplace
  • Panellists will share their insights before taking questions from the floor

  Siu Mun Li, Director, Temporary Works Forum UK, (CONFIRMED)

  Nicola Bird, Founder and CEO, AccXel (CONFIRMED)

  Jess Costanzo, Commercial Director, Simmtronic (CONFIRMED)

  

  

   

• 13.50

  Case Study: Mitigating the Impacts of Menopause to Enable Fulfilling Working Lives

  This presentation provides methods for creating a supportive workplace environment for colleagues managing menopause symptoms, including workplace adjustments, unconscious bias training, allyship initiatives, and health screening support, aiming to reduce stigma and discrimination, and enhance overall well-being.

  • Strengthening workplace adjustments to support colleagues in managing menopause symptoms and eliminating reproductive hazards
  • Developing bespoke unconscious bias training to tackle stigma and discrimination around menopause and fertility
  • Engaging male colleagues and encouraging allyship with awareness-raising initiatives
  • Supporting female staff and family members to access health screenings and signpost relevant advice

  Helen White, Head of People Operations and Reward, Willmott Dixon Holdings Limited (CONFIRMED)

  

   

• 14.10

  Questions and Answers 

• 14.30

  Chair’s Summary and Close

  *Programme subject to change

  

Who Should Attend?

This Conference is open to Public, Private and Third Sectors.

For more information or to make a booking please call 0330 058 4285

Raise your Profile, Showcase Your Solutions, Generate New Business

If your products, services, and solutions can support our audiences in their roles, and you want to make connections and generate new business with key stakeholders, decision makers, and influencers, then please contact Chris and Ali today at sponsorship@governmentevents.co.uk or complete our enquiry form here and we will contact you.

Benefits of partnering with us include:

• Brand awareness: Be seen by a highly targeted and engaged audience before, during, and after the conference.
• Lead generation: Meet the decision-makers and influencers responsible for making purchasing decisions on cyber security and data protection.
• Thought leadership: Position your organisation and experts as thought leaders and the ‘go to’ experts.
• Networking: Make valuable connections with potential new customers and partners across government and the wider public sector
• Grow your business: Reach decision makers in a single event on just one day and in one location (with no travel/accommodation required), saving you time and money.
• Gain valuable insights: Hear the latest from key stakeholders in government, and across the public and voluntary sectors.

IMPORTANT: There are only a small number of sponsorship opportunities available to ensure maximum exposure and ROI – contact us today to secure your place.

All packages include:

• Extensive branding – before, during, after the conference
• 15-20 min morning speaking session with Q&A
• Virtual stand to showcase your organisation, products, services, and solutions
• Opportunities to network during the day
• Half to full page ad in the E-Guide
• Banner ad on the virtual events platform
• Announcement post on LinkedIn
• Announcement within delegate communication
• 1-3 delegate places (worth upto £1,947)
• Access to the delegate details after the event
• Ongoing exposure through OnDemand (coming soon)

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Virtual vs F2F

Whilst F2F provide better options for networking, there are many distinct advantages of sponsoring our online conferences including:

• Wider geographical reach of delegates and a different audience who prefer online to f2f
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• Private Sector Rate: £499.00+VAT
• Public Sector Rate: £360.00+VAT
• Voluntary Sector Rate: £330.00+VAT