With the support of parent company Grafton Group plc, CPI EuroMix has established the Building Bridges Network, which brings together leading construction industry names to champion best practice for equality, equity, diversity and inclusion in the industry.
Building Bridges Network is the brainchild of CPI’s Finance Director Wendy McFarlane and Head of HR Steven Giles, and is sponsored by Paula Harvey, Grafton’s Group HR Director. It brings together representatives from Selco, MKM, Leyland SDM, SIG plc, Marshalls, Grafton Group plc, Clarkson Evans, Taylor Wimpey and Crest Nicholson who all attended the inaugural meeting in Birmingham on 11th June.
Wendy said: “It was a terrific first meeting of the Building Bridges Network where the group shared insights on the common challenges regarding the known lack of diversity in the industry. To have a room full of such driven, passionate and influential individuals was inspiring and hugely encouraging for the difference we all want to see for diversity and inclusion in construction. We are determined to be the drivers for change and make a real impact in this space.”
The ongoing skills shortage remains a concern for the construction industry, with a recent Construction Skills Network (CSN) report revealing an estimated 225,000 new workers will need to be recruited by 2027 to keep pace with building demand. Building Bridges Network recognises that a diverse approach is key to widening the pool of potential candidates and bridging the building skills gap.
Recruitment, awareness, and communication, as well as internal networks were high on the agenda, with Gabi Renshaw-Palotai sharing her experiences at Marshalls where a number of internal networking groups are a valuable resource for the evolution of the business.
The group also discussed strengthening ties with schools, and arranging outreach programmes with places of Further Education as a means of engaging with students and encouraging young people to consider a career in construction.
By sharing success stories, tangible actions, as well as building a highly influential network in the industry, this will not only benefit individual businesses but drive change across the landscape. CPI Euromix reports that the group left with a “vision of thinking differently, not being afraid to try a new approach and reflecting on how this small number of driven individuals can make a big change.”
The next Building Bridges Network meeting will take place in September hosted by Taylor Wimpey.
