With International Women’s Day focusing on ‘inspiring inclusion’, we sat down with Joanna Kuzelewska, Senior Design Manager to discuss how the construction industry has changed over the past two decades.
Flexible working
Having moved to the UK from Poland over 20 years ago to pursue a career in construction, Joanna has witnessed an industry transform. “I’ve seen a change both when it comes to women on site and on developing the policies to inspire inclusion in the wider sector,” she says. “When I first stepped into the industry, being a woman of minority background in a senior position was so rare that it was almost unthinkable”.
With long hours and a lack of flexibility hallmarks of the job when she first entered the profession, Joanna saw first-hand how many women found it near impossible to balance work and personal responsibilities. “Fortunately”, she says, “I’ve seen quite a big change in recent years, spurred on by Covid, with workplaces becoming much more flexible.”
“But inclusion isn’t a moment, it’s a mindset, and so we ensure this change becomes permanent it is vital that companies implement policies that allow flexibility in workload and working hours to allow women to fulfil both their professional and personal lives,” she adds.
This approach is reflected in Sir Robert McAlpine’s flexible working policy, which is not just about working from home, but also making adjustments to working hours and working life; imagining and creating an environment that is suitable to everyone’s needs. This involves guidance for managers in creating a workplace on site, which is responsive to the needs of women throughout their careers.
What more can be done?
“It’s really great to see how far the industry has come since I started” says Joanna, “but there isn’t a single place where we wouldn’t be able to improve”. In Joanna’s eyes, the chief issue is ensuring the industry values women for their talent, not their gender, and that all women in the industry are afforded equal rights, with equal pay.
However, she is optimistic about the future of women in construction, citing the number of female CEOs that have been appointed in the last year. Her advice for women entering the industry? “Don't be afraid to speak up”.