FINNING UK & Ireland has signed up as a partner for the 2023 Inspiring Women in Construction and Engineering programme.
A collaboration with Construction News and New Civil Engineer, the initiative brings together people across the sector to champion the role of women. It aims to provide an open forum for women – and men – to share their experiences of overcoming challenges and to inspire others.
This is the second year Finning has been a partner in the event. This year’s programme will begin with the publication of an annual survey and webinar focusing on the role flexible working plays in opening more opportunities for women in the industry.
The initiative culminates in an annual conference in October, bringing together keynote speakers to share experiences and empower others.
Rachel See, director of aftermarket and marketing took part in last year’s event, leading a panel discussion on overcoming challenging behaviour in the workplace. She said signing up to be a partner for the 2023 programme was a natural fit for Finning, with the company having recently launched two development programmes to support employees to become successful leaders, while also endorsing a better work/life balance.
She said, “We are extremely proud to play a leading role in driving equality, diversity and inclusion across the industries we work in, which is fundamentally at the heart of everything we do here at Finning. Being a partner in the Inspiring Women in Construction and Engineering programme enables us to ensure we embed diversity of thought and action across everything we do – from our interactions with our own colleagues and customers through to helping to shape a more open future for the construction and engineering sectors.
“It’s a real honour to be part of such a progressive and inspirational group of companies, and we’re looking forward to learning about the impactful work others are doing to drive diversity, and in sharing our own experiences and future to continue to reinforce the importance of equality and in having a secure and inclusive environment for our colleagues and customers.
“We are working hard to attract more women into engineering and the construction industry because we understand the value of a diverse workforce and fundamentally want the best talent in our team.
“Giving females and male employees flexibility to manage their hours, for example, enabling them to achieve a better balance with family commitments or professional development has successfully driven our retention rates and means we deliver the best service experience for our customers.
“Events such as this one have a key role to play in breaking down people’s perceptions of our industry.”
The webinar, ‘unlocking the potential for flexible working’ takes place on March 8, which is also the launch date for the entries to the Women in Construction and Engineering Awards. For more information about the award categories and conference go to https://inspiring.constructionnews.co.uk/cnnceinspiringwomen2023/en/page/home
