Two of the UK’s leading construction firms, Costain and Willmott Dixon, have been lauded for their commitment to gender equality.
- Both companies earned a spot in The Times’ Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality list, highlighting their progressive policies.
- Costain was praised for its diverse leadership and transparent career progression paths within the company.
- Willmott Dixon’s Women’s Leadership Programme has propelled many women into higher roles since 2021.
- Despite these achievements, data shows a decline in women’s representation in construction’s top roles.
Two prominent contractors in the UK construction industry, Costain and Willmott Dixon, have been celebrated for their comprehensive efforts towards gender equality by being included in The Times’ annual Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality. This accolade acknowledges organisations that have meticulously integrated gender equality into their strategic goals, recognised by The Times and Business in the Community, a business-led network advocating for social advancement.
Costain, which ranked 12th on the CN100 list of top contractors, has been particularly noted for its efforts in fostering a diverse executive and board-level leadership. The company has taken significant strides in making its job grading, rewards, and benefits more transparent. Furthermore, its innovative career-path framework provides employees with greater insight into their career advancement opportunities, thus encouraging personal and professional growth.
Willmott Dixon, placed 19th in the CN100, has been commended for the impactful Women’s Leadership Programme. Initiated in 2021, this programme has seen over half of its participants receiving promotions or transitioning into new roles, thereby underscoring its success in nurturing female leadership. In addition to this, Wilmot Dixon has prioritised inclusive work environments, adapting facilities and workwear to better suit female employees, and offering equitable homeworking allowances, especially beneficial for part-time working women.
Catherine Warbrick, Costain’s Chief People and Sustainability Officer, underscored the importance of a diverse workforce in enhancing the company’s capability to deliver more impactful infrastructure solutions, stating that a varied yet inclusive workforce contributes significantly to a dynamic work environment. Similarly, Graham Dundas, Willmott Dixon’s Chief Executive, reiterated the company’s long-standing commitment to diversity, specifically emphasizing the target of gender parity by 2030 across management roles.
Despite these praiseworthy initiatives, there is an acknowledgment within the industry of the persisting challenges. Charlotte Wordsworth, BITC’s gender equality director, highlighted that while progress has been made, substantial barriers still exist, particularly in pay equity and career progression for women with caregiving responsibilities. The overall representation of women in top construction roles remains disproportionately low, as evidenced by recent declines post-COVID-19.
Costain and Willmott Dixon’s exemplar policies mark essential progress towards gender equality in construction, yet challenges persist.
