Wates has embarked on a three-year partnership with the Young Women’s Trust to support and inspire more women to take up a career in construction.
Wates is the first construction partner for the Young Women’s Trust. Together, they will support women who are aged 18 to 30 and are on low pay and at risk of poverty. The ambition is for the Trust to help 15,000 women over three years.
News of the partnership came in advance of International Women’s Day 2020 (8 March). Wates will develop a work experience opportunity to broaden young women’s understanding of the construction industry in a bid to combat the skills shortage. Figures from The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) highlight that the industry will need to find 160,000 new recruits by 2023 to keep up with demand.
As part of the partnership, Wates will:
- Provide up to 40 volunteers for the Young Women’s Trust’s Work It Out programme, which offers free and flexible support to help women develop strong mental health and employment skills so they can take steps towards work. These volunteers will give advice and feedback on young women’s CVs and job applications, helping them to identify their strengths and secure interviews.
- Co-develop a work experience programme within Wates for young women to help show a clear pathway into construction, boost skills and provide training opportunities.
- Raise funds through staff events which will help the charity meet its objectives of supporting 15,000 young women over the next three years, to unlock women’s potential, overcome stereotypes and build equal workplaces.
In July 2019, Wates launched its vision for diversity and inclusion, which it has named ‘#WatesTogether’. Targets for 2025 include:
- Having a workforce which is more reflective of society, with 60% men, 40% women, 20% BAME, 3% with a disability and 5% LGBTQ+ across all levels of the business
- 50% of the Group’s early careers intake to be female
- 5% of new recruits will be career returners.
In addition, Wates is committed to overhauling its carer and parental leave to help retain members of staff, supporting them in managing personal and professional commitments and helping to improve the gender pay gap.
Nikunj Upadhyay, group head of diversity and inclusion at Wates Group, said: “Our three-year partnership with Young Women’s Trust is, first and foremost, about inspiring young women to see construction as a conscious career choice. It’s about fundamentally improving access to opportunities and supporting disadvantaged young women as well as recruiting young talent into our industry.
“At Wates Group, we believe that responsible business, done well, is good for society – it creates jobs, supports career development, and invests in the community. Our new partnership is just one of the ways that we are going to continue to be a business where everyone is welcome, included and connected.”
Sophie Walker, chief executive of Young Women’s Trust, said: “As inequality across the country grows and services for young people are cut, young women, particularly those who face complex barriers to work, are being left behind. The work of Young Women’s Trust has never been more important – we need to support young women so they can develop strong mental health and secure financial futures, we need to challenge career stereotypes and the systemic barriers that hold young women back.
“We are glad to have clear, dedicated and practical support from Wates. We look forward to developing a work experience model with them that can support more young women to join and thrive in the construction industry. And we are grateful to have a dedicated bank of volunteers offering CV feedback advice so that more young women can fulfil their potential.”
