Diversity Matters

The one common theme causing most senior management to lose sleep at the moment is lack of skills and shortage of good skilled staff. Our industry lost over 400,000 jobs in the recession and a further 400,000 people will retire in the next decade. With 10 % of our workforce between the ages of 19 and 24, 12% women and about 5% from a non-white background, construction cannot possibly fill the requirement for skill and jobs by looking to a pale male graduate supply.

Diversity matters because diversity means business. Without diversity our businesses and our industry cannot thrive. It is not only the right thing but it is now a compelling commercial imperative.

So what is the Construction Leadership Council doing about this?

It is no accident that the Industrial Strategy “Construction 2025” produced by government and industry in partnership, put PEOPLE first on its agenda.

The Construction Industry Council and its Delivery Group are working on a number of initiatives to address some key challenges.

In spite of many excellent efforts we still have an urgent need to improve the perception of our industry amongst young people at school, their parents and their teachers. We need to get across a compelling story that our industry is an excellent place to build a long and rewarding career with a real diversity of jobs available to all who want to join us.

CLC Delivery Group is working on proposals for a common gateway for information and advice, with clear entry routes into the industry. An effective common industry framework for engaging young people with a gateway website. A ‘shop window’ for our industry with a clear message that whatever your background or academic ability, construction can offer you opportunities and a rewarding career.

Whilst inspiring young people is the immediate focus of CLC and its Delivery Group to improving the image and attractiveness of the industry it is only the start.

The young people who are attracted to join us will in turn attract those that follow them. But to create a diverse workforce we must retain a diverse work force.

Many people have said, and particularly women already involved with construction, that we are not a welcoming industry.

Persuading women, and indeed men, to make a career in construction will remain a problem until this is addressed, and cultural change is at the heart of this. Modernising employment procedures, embracing technology that allows flexible and remote working, creating the training opportunities which allow women and men with young children, those who care for relatives and those with disability to participate in our industry and grow to management roles are key to attracting and retaining diverse workforce.

Our industry is a vital economic sector. If we are to remain so and our business to continue to thrive, then we need to recognise that we must attract and retain people from the whole of the talent pool.

Diversity matters to business because diversity is business.