SC4 Carpenters Articles - Diversity in Construction
The Construction industry is suffering a major skills shortage and is missing out on the contribution of more than 50% of its potential workforce due to being predominantly and historically limited to straight (cishet) white men.
In the articles below we discuss How the Construction Industry can increase and support Diversity in its workforce and ensure Equity and Inclusion of all. There is a particular focus on Women in Construction and Neurodiversity in Construction, as well as sources of more information and support related to inclusion of a more diverse workforce.
In this context:
- Equity aims to recognize and compensate for the various barriers that lead to specific groups of people being underrepresented. This is different from Equality which aims to treat everyone the same. This could include taking differences in background or education into account when interviewing, or setting up a mentoring programmes to support those from specific groups, such as women, minorities, LGBTQ+ or neurodivergent people.
- Diversity ensures a range of different identities across traits like ethnicity, race, gender identity, language, socioeconomic status, and (dis)ability (among many other characteristics) are represented.
- Inclusion It is not enough to have just equity and a diverse workforce. Construction needs to ensure that everyone feels appreciated, valued, welcomed and considered, and are given the opportunities to contribute, progress and excel.
Also see: Neurodiversity in Construction
Also see: Women in Construction
Also see: Pride in Construction
Solving the Construction Workforce Crisis Through Greater Opportunities For Women, BAME, LGBTQ+ and Workers with Disabilities
Among the issues facing the incoming Labour government are long term, structural difficulties within the UK construction sector. It’s not that there’s any shortage of demand.
How can changing attitudes in education relieve Construction skills shortages?
If you don't work harder at school you'll end up on a building site.
How many boys (and girls) heard this and thought "that's not the career for me"?
This article discusses how can changing attitudes towards neurodivergence and those with creative skills can help relieve skills shortages in the Construction Industry.
And that we should be valuing these skills in childhood and pride in neurodivergent people, not knocking them for the very skills the industry needs.
Katy Hall - Shortlisted for IWCE 2024
SC4 Carpenters Ltd is thrilled to announce that Katy Hall, one of the owner/directors or SC4 Carpenters Ltd, has been shortlisted for 3 awards at the Inspiring Women in Construction and Engineering awards 2024.
10 Tips to Boost Productivity for Neurodivergent People
This ADHD Productivity Cheat Sheet includes 10 Tips to Boost Productivity for Neurodivergent People, because standard methodologies, tips and tricks aimed at neurotypical brains don't work and can leave someone who is neurodivergent feeling like a failure.
How Can the Right Specialist Contractor Add Value to Your New-Build Housing Development?
As a contractor or contractor-developer, you understand the significance of selecting the right specialist trade contractor to support your new-build housing projects. Working with the right specialist contractor can significantly impact your project's success, bringing in further expertise, experience, quality assurance, project management capabilities, and a strong commitment to health and safety. This eBook delves into the key aspects that a competent specialist trade contractor can contribute to your new-build housing development.
Being a Neurodivergent Woman in Construction
Katy Hall is a neurodivergent (ND) woman who has been working in technology & construction since the 1980s. In this article she shares how being neurodivergent affects her and the benefits she believes she brings to her role.
International Women’s Day UK 2024: The Sector Has Come A Long Way But There Is Still Further To Go
This year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) falls on Friday 8th March 2024. 10 years ago in 2014, International Women’s Day, also on 8th March, as always, took the theme of ‘equality for women is progress for all’. This year’s IWD is a good opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come in terms of that vision in the UK construction sector over the past decade, and where further improvements can be made.
Creating A More Inclusive Working Environment For Women In Construction
As we look forward to International Women’s Day next month (8th March 2024), a lot of construction industry stakeholders and thought leaders are reflecting on the position of women in the industry and how things can be improved. Without ignoring the huge improvements in female involvement in the sector, there is still clearly a long way to go – with at most 16% of British industry workers being women.
Diversity in Construction in 2023
In January 2024, the Sustainability Tool, in collaboration with the Supply Chain Sustainability School’s Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) Programme, published its UK built environment diversity survey. This survey of more than 526,000 people provides a detailed record of diversity data and pinpoints areas for improvement.
What is the Impact of Neurodiversity on the Construction Industry?
Two 2023 surveys from the Association of Project Managers and On the Tools suggest that around half of Construction Project Managers and Tradespeople describe themselves as Neurodivergent.
Reassuringly, 9 out of 10 Neurodivergent Project Managers in Construction say their employers have made changes to accommodate their needs.
Women in Construction – Your Questions Answered: Part Two
In this, the second part of our mini-series on women in construction, we tackle some of the most commonly asked questions surrounding the role of women in the industry.
Women In Construction – Your Questions Answered: Part One
One of the biggest trends in UK construction is the growing involvement of women at all levels of the sector. In this two-part article series, we’ll look at the challenges and opportunities faced by women in the construction industry. From breaking down stereotypes to exploring the benefits of a diverse workforce, we will address some of the most commonly asked questions and uncover the untapped potential of women in a traditionally male-dominated sector.
Is It True That Women Don’t Want To Work In Construction?
With the exception of a growing number of noteworthy and admirable examples, construction is still largely a male-dominated industry. Walk onto an average construction site and you’re not likely to see too many women in hard hats and vests, but this is changing rapidly due to changing societal attitudes, better promotion of STEM subjects as viable subjects for girls and young women in schools and universities, and more information about the wide range of job opportunities available in construction.
Equal Representation in the Construction Industry - What Can You Do Better?
Whether you are a business owner, manager, or employee, we all have a part to play in creating a more welcoming and inclusive work environment within our industry. As business owners, it is easy to make all the right moves in our attempts to hire a more diverse team of tradespeople and on-site operatives, but what happens when they quit due to bullying, discrimination, or lack of accessibility?
Research shows Neurodiversity is widespread in UK Construction
New research from National Federation of Builders, published in August 2023 in conjunction with CITB, has discovered that neurodiversity is common amongst construction workers in the UK and being neurodivergent is encouraging people to pursue a career in construction. SC4 Carpenters Ltd employs neurodivergent people at all levels from Directors to Carpenters and Decorators on site and believes they bring a lot of benefits to our business.
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