Construction giant Wates Group has set itself a target of 40% of its workforce being female by 2025.
It has just announced #WatesTogether, a diversity and inclusion plan to dramatically increase the number of women across its team as well as represent a greater proportion of BAME, disabled and LGBTQ+ people working for the company.
David Allen, chief executive of Wates, said: “The entire built environment sector needs to change to become more representative of the society we serve. At Wates we want a role in leading that change. Our plan summarises our approach our goals and our commitment to be a business where everyone is welcomed, included and connected.
The plan commits to a number of aims:
- Having a workforce comprising 60% men, 40% women, 20% BAME, 3% with a disability and 5% LGBTQ+ across all levels of the business
- 50% of the group’s early careers intake to be female
- 5% of new recruits will be career returners
- Overhauling its parental leave and flexible working policies, improving the gender pay gap and collaborating across industry to help drive sector-wide change.
The announcement of the plan coincides with the appointment of Nikunj Upadhyay as group head of diversity and inclusion from 30 September. She joins from Barclays, where she is vice president, D&I, and will be reporting to group HR director, Paul Rowan.
Allen added: “We’re delighted to welcome Nikunj Upadhyay to our leadership team to lead this important work. Through her experience at Barclays, and earlier at HSBC and Accenture, Nikunj has overseen the implementation of initiatives focused on increasing the representation of women and engagement of under-represented groups, as well as programmes to promote flexible working. We look forward to welcoming her as we continue our journey to becoming a more inclusive and better business.”
Upadhyay said: “For me, an inclusive workplace is where we feel our individuality is cherished and we can be confident to bring our whole self to work. I am looking forward to joining Wates and to working with everyone to deliver the ambition of #WatesTogether, where each one of us not only feels included but is also thriving.”
Suzannah Nichol MBE, chief executive of Build UK, responded to the launch announcement: “Our industry offers a huge range of exciting and rewarding career opportunities and we can do so much more to create inclusive work environments which get the best out of everyone. It is great to see Wates, a Build UK Member, setting out a clear plan of action to recruit, train and retain people with the ambition and skills we need to deliver projects both now, and in the future, and I look forward to sharing their success. By working together, the whole supply chain can encourage the next generation to come and join us.”
