Go Traffic Management is celebrating Women in Construction Week

As part of the Network Plus group of companies, GTM is helping put a spotlight on the role of women across the Network Plus Group of companies and showcasing the great variety of jobs they perform, as part of Women in Construction Week. As a group of companies we strive to attract more females into the business. Across our wider teams we’re giving industry insight to school leavers, improving our recruitment, onboarding and providing career development. We recognise the fantastic women we have across the whole group for the great work they do.

Placing a focus on this is crucial. Industry data shows women account for only 11% of the construction workforce. This drops to just 1% of operatives on site. We know the UK has the lowest proportion of female engineers (less than 10%) across Europe and this coupled with the major shortage of qualified construction workers forecast presents an opportunity to encourage more women into the sector.

Specifically we are enhancing our recruitment processes and procedures, training and support to include:

• A full review of our Recruitment and Selection Policy, ensuring transparency, gender neutral job adverts and targeted recruitment
• Adding a process for at least one female candidate to be shortlisted for roles to encourage greater diversity
• Proactively encouraging female project managers and site based roles through our recruitment processes
• The set-up of a “Women in Network Plus” group to identify tangible ways to support each other and encourage more females, especially in operations
• A “Women in Leadership” course through Salford University, launching in Spring
• Supporting female managers to become mentors via the Women in Utilities network, and complete the Women in Utilities Success programme with Develop Training.
• The Network Plus team are also continuing to run a zero tolerance policy on sexism and harassment on operational sites.

We are focussed on building an inclusive and supportive culture across Network Plus Group.

As we operate at the heart of local communities, a significant area where we can have an impact as a wider business is through our work with schools and colleges. The Network Plus group works with the education sector to help raise awareness of the industry. We share the roles available, the career potential and pathways. Case studies of the journeys of our own team members help attract young talented females into the sector. Our female leaders often deliver school presentations, STEM days and classroom lessons to help bring to life careers in this industry.

“It’s crucial that as a business we are diverse and inclusive, reflecting the communities in which we work. For many years the industry has been alive to the challenges faced in terms of future skills shortage and the lack of women in the sector. At Network Plus Group, we already have some fantastic women in the construction and utilities sectors. By building on this talent and proactively providing support to females in the business, we are absolutely doing the right thing. We have exciting plans to build a better future and a more successful industry.” Network Plus Group, which includes Go Traffic Management.

Find out more about Diversity + Inclusion at Go Traffic Management