To mark International Women’s Day, which takes place on Sunday 8th March, we thought we’d take the opportunity to celebrate the different roles that women play in our business. We also wanted to be a voice of support; to encourage more women to consider careers in our sector by reflecting the experiences of those who have done just that.
Women in Retrofit
Within Britain’s retrofit decarbonisation sector, it’s estimated that women account for between 18% and 20% of the workforce. Across the construction industry more generally, the figure is even lower: probably less than 15%. We regard that as a missed opportunity – a sector losing out on access to valuable talent because of outmoded attitudes and preconceptions.
All the evidence suggests that the retrofit sector is going to have to expand sharply over the coming decade if we are going to address the climate crisis and the challenges of net zero. Forecasts indicate that its growth will create well over 200,000 new jobs, and nearly half a million across the construction industry as a whole. If the country is to be steered by common sense and principles of equality, then a great many of these roles will inevitably be taken up by women.
Our Contribution
At SBS, we’re proud to be able to say that 33.55% of our group workforce is female. That’s more than double the construction industry average and, as our head of HR Kris Gallagher explains, it’s the result of the foundational principles underlying our business.
Kris says: “I’m incredibly proud to be part of an organisation where women make up over a third of our workforce. While we can celebrate this number, our true strength isn’t found in the statistics—it’s found in our culture of fairness.
“As a senior leader and proud mother of two daughters, my responsibility is to lead with the compassion and integrity necessary to ensure the next generation never sees ‘no’ as a limit. I’m committed to building a legacy where fairness is a fundamental principle, empowering every woman to define and reach her own potential.
“An important part of doing that is inspiring the next generation of female leaders. That, in turn, is partly about education; it means dispelling old myths about the industry, and giving young women an insight into what skills and capabilities are going to be needed if the future is going to be truly sustainable.”
“More Opportunities”
Amber Lawton is one of our Assistant Quantity Surveyors. Her advice to women who may be considering a career in retrofit is simple: “Just go for it. There are more opportunities than ever before, and across a wide range of roles. While it may still be a male-dominated industry, that shouldn’t hold anyone back. It’s evolving quickly; it’s a rewarding, dynamic sector with so much to offer.”
Shannon Groves is one of our Resident Liaison Officers and she is similarly upbeat. She says: “To all the women working in the construction industry: be bold. Show up unapologetically. Challenge the people who underestimate you. Take the risk. Use your voice. And above all – put yourself first.”
