1 July 2016

Transport Minister for Skills, Lord Ahmad and 15 members of Women into Construction (WIC) spent a day with the Costain Skanska Joint Venture (CSJV) team at the Crossrail site in Paddington.

The aim was to provide a networking opportunity for the WIC members - a mix of student, qualified professionals and graduate level trainees – and help encourage more women into engineering. The CSJV has offered ten short work placements over the next two years to the WIC members to give them the opportunity to develop their skills.

Said Lord Ahmad: “Women currently make up a tiny proportion of our surveyors, engineers and construction professionals. We need to overhaul the sector’s image, so engineering and construction are a more attractive career option for women. A diverse workforce means a more successful workforce.”

He and the WIC members received a presentation about the project to build the new Elizabeth line station at Paddington, followed by a site tour and lunch with members of the CSJV team.

Said Graham Sugrue, C405 Project Director: “We were proud to host the Women into Construction group network session and facilitate a site visit to showcase what we are delivering on Crossrail.

“To sustain the forecast growth in construction, as an industry and within our businesses, we need to promote a more diverse and inclusive workplace to attract the aspiring talent we all need. We are glad that we will be able to offer work placements to some of the visitors today to support their future careers.”

Added Kath Moore, Managing Director, WIC: “Women in Construction would like to thank everyone involved in organising the visit.

“Feedback from the women has been very positive. They found it interesting, informative and quite inspirational. They are very much looking forward to an opportunity to use their skills through potential placement opportunities on site.”

WIC is an independent, not-for-profit organization that promotes gender equality in construction. It provides advice, training, work placements and job opportunities that ultimately lead to sustained employment in construction for women. For contractors, it provides access to skilled and motivated women wishing to enter the construction industry.

Caption: Lord Ahmad (centre) pictured with members of the CSJV Project at Paddington

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