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Industry must do more to keep women in construction

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  1. Sheffield Hallam are proud to support initiatives around equality and diversity and we recently swept the boards at the Yorkshire and North East WIP awards with a student winner and two special commendations.
    The issue of women in the industry is a huge challenge. Schools, colleges, universities, professional bodies, industry bodies, careers advisers and the government need to work together to make it happen. Sadly in my 30 year career I’ve not seen much evidence of this…… Not just industries problem IMO.

  2. Tell me why would the average man wish to do himself out of a job, which often supports a family, by encouraging women into construction. At the very least women often force the wages down. This the real world not some taxpayer funded utopia, all please note.

  3. Entry to the industry can be initially off-putting for women due to the lack of other women. The industry is changing so fast now (BIM, portal technology, electronic information exchange, legislation and new / updated forms of contract, NRM) that trying to catch up after maternity breaks can feel like a mountain to climb. Additionally, lack of flexibility or financial penalisation for part-time working can also be an issue when women are trying to do justice to family life and return to an earlier PM/QS/Arch/Eng role.

  4. Brendon Leigh has a lot to answer for! This is exactly the misogynistic stereotype we hope that people are moving away from… welcome to the 21st century! I for one am the breadwinner of our household, why would I wish to quote “do myself out of a job” when I’m the one who pays the mortgage and all our bills.

  5. Where do we start on this? Thinking about diversity and inclusion , in terms of gender, ethnicity and sexuality, not to mention innovation , adoption of technology and millennial engagement, our industry woefully lags behind everyone else like some recalcitrant child. The limp wristed response from our institutes on moving forward on this collectively is disgraceful as is the lack of leadership from our industry worthies and big names. If these issues are not addressed quickly once the boomers have retired there will be no industry left. The writing is on the wall here. If current incumbents can’t get the job done, maybe its time they moved over!
    As a white professional male in his early 60’s I am your typical industry stereotype. If we have to take positive action to redress this balance to even up the playing field for a while then so be it.I have worked with, for and alongside some truly inspirational women. There are no dragons here. Time for some real action. Who’s going to step up?

  6. Brendon Leigh….this is 2016 not 1620!

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