18/08/2021

Working with Women into Construction

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We are delighted to be continuing our Gold membership with Women into Construction CIC for another year!

Women into Construction (WiC) is an independent not-for-profit organisation that promotes gender equality in construction. They help contractors like Bouygues UK to recruit women into the industry; helping to reduce skills gaps and create a more gender-equal workforce. At Bouygues UK, supporting women in the construction industry is a top priority so we’re proud to support WiC in changing the face of construction.

As part of our work with the organisation, Bouygues UK recently welcomed twelve women from various WiC employment programmes such as EQUIP Central and West; Berkeley Foundation supporting Barking and Dagenham College learners and The Guinness Partnership onto Bouygues UK’s Postmark-Mount Pleasant site. Hai Truong, Project Director welcomed the visitors and spoke about the career opportunities that Bouygues UK and the wider construction industry has to offer for women. Site Manager Margarita Ramirez and Senior Site Manager Laura Saleh-Tassan took the women on a site tour after giving engaging presentations about their own career journey. The two women shared their experiences of getting a position in construction in the UK as well on how they manage the project on a daily basis.

Social Value Advisor, Suzi Mattos, who explained to our guests how the project delivery has run over the past two years, said, ‘I am pleased that we were able to host WiC on our site once again. It was wonderful to meet all those ladies and share our passion for construction.’

WiC Project manager Anna Walterskotter says a huge thank you to everyone at Bouygues UK: ‘This was a great chance for our women to get a feeling for working on site. It will particularly benefit those women currently studying on construction courses and looking for apprenticeships for September to be able to shine at interviews.’

Since the end of June, the Postmark-Mount Pleasant project has also been hosting a wave of work experience participants onto site as well as running virtual sessions. In partnership with WiC, Bouygues UK is helping women to experience what life is really like on site, teaching them about the industry as well as giving career advice from our inspiring employees during 30-minute coaching sessions.

So far, three women have completed 2 weeks’ work experience at Bouygues UK’s Postmark-Mount Pleasant site in different areas such as site administration, quantity surveyor, cost controller and logistics.

It was through this work experience that one woman, Mary Boateng, has successfully started a position as Site Administrator. We are so pleased to have been able to give Mary this opportunity to increase her experience in the field and we wish her all the best for her career in construction.

Another participant, Yeshiwork Mekonnen commented, ‘During my two weeks stay with Bouygues UK, I was so excited and keen to learn how the construction industry works. It was such a good experience that I did not want it to come to an end!’

Bouygues UK hopes to host many more women for events and work experience on our sites in the coming months in partnership with WiC. Watch this space!