Strength in Numbers

There is a well-worn saying that it takes a village to raise a child. At the Construction Inclusion Coalition, we believe it takes a whole sector working together to grow the leaders of tomorrow.

The Construction Inclusion Coalition, established by a group of leading organisations to develop an industry that truly reflects the communities it builds for, has spent the past three years creating practical, people-centred programmes that are already delivering measurable change.

Through our cross-company mentoring programme, Elevate network and our ‘Men as Allies’ workshops, we have been growing a connected community of people across the building supply chain united by a shared commitment to inclusive leadership and advancing the progress of their colleagues.

A Brain to Pick, an Ear to Listen

Last May, we launched the pilot of our mentoring programme, matching fifteen talented women with experienced mentors from different businesses across the building supply chain. The results have been striking.

For Daisy Mulingani of Ibstock, the programme arrived at the right moment. “I joined the programme at a time where I was feeling a little lost and uncertain over the direction my career was heading,” she says. “I saw it as an opportunity to reflect, gain outside perspective, and re-align myself with my long-term career goals.”

Daisy felt that she has achieved a breakthrough from honest conversations about imposter syndrome. “Hearing my mentor openly share that she has felt the same at different stages of her career was incredibly reassuring. She helped me view self-doubt as a sign that I am challenging myself and growing, instead of failing.”

That positive shift in perspective has been a recurring theme. Alice Wise of Toolstation describes the programme as “an invaluable way to shape your thinking, gain new perspectives, and develop yourself as a leader.” For Gemma Brazier of Bristan, the biggest change has been learning to “pause, reflect, and talk openly about her feelings” which she credits with making her a more confident and effective manager.

I’ve personally found mentoring to be one of the most rewarding aspects of the CIC’s work. Having benefitted from great mentors throughout my own career, I was excited for the opportunity to give something back, and I’ve been hugely impressed by the quality and commitment of the women coming through the programme.

With former mentees already stepping into leadership roles within their organisations, the CIC is now focused on scaling up to reach even more women across the sector.

Inclusive Leadership in Practice

Alongside mentoring, we have been working with member organisations and Men as Allies to explore what inclusive leadership truly looks like in practice, through a series of workshops.

Daksh Gupta, Group CEO of Huws Gray Group, attended our Men as Allies: Driving Inclusive Leadership workshop and describes a genuine shift in his thinking. “One of the shifts was realising the profound impact that small, everyday actions can have in fostering a more inclusive environment, not just the big policy decisions,” he says. “Since the session, I’ve been much more conscious about embedding inclusion into my day-to-day work, being more intentional about seeking different views during meetings and ensuring that all voices are heard.”

I am a firm believer that when leaders at the top of an organisation think and act this way, this disseminates through an organisation’s culture.

Paul Asquith, Regional Director at Selco Builders Warehouse, also came away with a similar determination to act.

Since attending, he has presented at Selco’s annual business conference on the topic of EDI and joined Selco’s Inclusion Working Group as an operational sponsor. “I would wholeheartedly recommend attending these workshops to other peers and leaders.”

Elevating Ambition

Completing the picture is the Elevate Network, the CIC’s dedicated space for women across the building materials sector to connect, develop and grow. From interactive workshops on career advancement strategies to sessions on work/life balance and imposter syndrome, Elevate continues to go from strength to strength. In two short years we have grown from zero to 250 members and regular online and in-person sessions.

The energy and enthusiasm within the network continues to inspire me. What we are building together across companies, roles, and experience levels is something the industry has not had before: a shared commitment to making construction a place where everyone can thrive.

If your organisation wants to be part of that mission, I and the CIC would love to hear from you. Contact us here.

Words by Jen Cassidy, Construction Inclusion Coalition Chair