Published
To mark International Women’s Day 2024, Manon Bradley, Development Director of the Major Projects Association, shares and celebrates the inspiring initiatives across our membership and beyond aimed at promoting the role of women in the initiation and delivery of major projects.
Friday 8th March is International Women’s Day. A day to reflect on creating a world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. The many sectors and professions that make up the major projects space have made huge strides over the past decade in terms of women’s representation and seniority. And for that we should be proud.
Since we launched our Gender Balance Initiative in 2015, we have produced a number of resources and we have seen a wealth of initiatives across our members and others which are aimed at showcasing and promoting the role of women in the initiation and delivery of major projects.
Here are a few:
SHE-BUILDS UK showcases women in construction. At its core, SHE BUILDS UK is a portrait photography project with a primary aim of inspiring females of all ages to consider a career in the construction industry. By celebrating a diverse group of women that already work in the industry, and bringing them into the spotlight with photography, written profiles and exhibitions, SHE BUILDS hopes to create role models of them so that they can inspire young women to enter the profession.
“Feminism isn’t about making women strong. Women are already strong. It’s about changing the way the world perceives that strength.”
G.D. Anderson, Writer & Founder of The Cova Project
It is very important that we platform and listen to women when we describe our experience of working in major projects.
“She has a voice. If you can’t hear it, it’s because you’re too busy talking.”
Amani Al-Khatahtbeh, Author, activist & Technology Entrepreneur
We are delighted to see that The House of Commons Administration Committee has announced a one-off public evidence session on the topic of women in construction – with a specific focus on current and future projects on parliamentary estate.
Well done to PMI UK who are holding a virtual event on 8th March about accelerating the progress of women in project management.
And excellent timing from APM on the publication of their report on Developing Effective Interventions for Gender Equality in UK Construction Project Organisations. The report makes for very interesting reading for anyone working in major projects. The findings back up our own work on effective strategies to improve Gender Balance in Major projects that structural interventions such as pay-transparency and social procurement are the most effective way to create long term change.
More broadly the topic of women in the workplace is being explored by the Institute of Government and Public Policy.
And McKinsey have famously been tracking Women’s engagement in the workplace for many years. Their findings make for fascinating reading.
“I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.”
Audre Lorde, Writer, Professor, Philosopher, Poet & Civil Rights Activist
International Women’s Day is a day to take stock and to consider if your organisation, processes and policies are truly inclusive of women.
It is also a day to celebrate success – not just of individual women but of our organisations for working hard to promote both men and women in equal measure, thereby creating diverse and effective delivery teams.
“When women flourish and their talents and their creativity flourish, then the world flourishes and men flourish.”
Mary McAleese, Former Irish President
