Constructing Equality Ireland

𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐈𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲, 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐮𝐬. Our first cross-industry roundtable brought together approximately 150 people from across construction, education, industry bodies, and partner organisations to explore a shared challenge: how do we attract and support more women into construction through early-career pathways? The insights captured during the event highlighted some clear themes: • 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲. Parents, teachers, career advisers, role models, and the visibility of construction careers all influence whether girls see our industry as a place for them. • 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡. We need clearer, more accessible pathways into the industry, including for women who have not followed traditional STEM or construction routes. • 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬. Placements, internships, apprenticeships, graduate programmes, and stronger links between education and industry all have an important role to play. • 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥. No single organisation can address these challenges alone. Real progress will require coordinated action across employers, educators, industry bodies, and the wider sector. Most importantly, the day reinforced exactly why Constructing Equality Ireland was created: to move from conversation to collective action. Thank you to everyone who joined us, challenged thinking, shared experiences, and contributed ideas. This was our first roundtable, but it is only the beginning. Now, the work continues. #ConstructingEqualityIreland #WomenInConstruction #GenderEquality #ConstructionCareers #CollectiveAction

Today we held the first Constructing Equality Ireland Round Table, bringing together over 150 people at the Castleknock Hotel to have an important conversation:How do we support and encourage more women into construction? The conversation was open, honest and, importantly, flowing. In the room were people from across the construction industry, community organisations, education providers and guidance counsellors. This diversity of voices was incredibly important because this is not just a construction industry issue, it is a societal one. At present, women make up just 10.9% of the construction workforce in Ireland, despite women representing approximately 50.5% of the population. That gap tells us there is work to do.But getting more women into construction isnt simply about recruitment.We need to change the culture of construction.We need to challenge perceptions of what a career in construction looks like. We need to create workplaces where women feel they belong, can progress and can see a long-term career for themselves.We need to look at how we introduce construction careers to young people, how careers are promoted in schools, how guidance counsellors talk about the industry, how we support women entering and progressing through construction, and how we create more inclusive working environments.And importantly, culture doesnt change through one initiative or one programme.It requires sustained action and collaboration between industry, education, communities, careers services, government and the people we are trying to reach.Today was only the first Constructing Equality Ireland Round Table, but it certainly wont be the last. The ambition is simple: Lets change the look and the culture of construction in Ireland. Not just by talking about equality, but by creating the opportunities, pathways and culture that make meaningful change possible. A huge thank you to everyone who contributed, challenged, listened and shared their experiences yesterday.The conversation has started. Now we need to turn it into action. John Sisk & Son Ltd Bord Gáis Energy Walls Jones Engineering Kirby Group Engineering Designer Group Turner & Townsend Dornan John Paul Construction #ConstructingEqualityIreland #WomenInConstruction #Construction #Equality #Diversity #Inclusion #SocialValue #STEM #Careers #Ireland

How do we attract more women into Ireland’s built environment sector? And ensure they have opportunities to stay and progress? On 6 October, Constructing Equality Ireland is bringing the industry together to tackle that question, and we’re inviting businesses and organisations from across the built environment to take part. The first Constructing Equality Ireland industry roundtable, taking place at Castleknock Hotel, will focus on the challenges, opportunities and gaps affecting the attraction, retention and progression of female talent across construction and engineering. Constructing Equality Ireland, facilitated by Business in the Community Ireland, is a new industry-wide initiative bringing together employers, industry bodies and other stakeholders to accelerate progress on gender equality across the sector. This first roundtable is about getting practical. What is already working? Where do barriers remain? And where could greater collaboration across the industry make a difference? The insights gathered will help inform the development of an industry-wide Gender Equality Action Plan. If you work in the built environment and want to contribute to that conversation, we’d encourage you to join us on 6 October. 📅 Tuesday, 6 October  📍 Castleknock Hotel, Dublin Register here: https://lnkd.in/euip_hR3  #ConstructingEqualityIreland #GenderEquality #WomenInConstruction

As a founding partner of Constructing Equality Ireland, Designer Group is pleased to support the initiative's first roundtable discussion on 𝟲 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿. Bringing together professionals from across the industry, the session will explore what's working, where barriers remain, and how greater collaboration can help create more opportunities for women while strengthening the future talent pipeline. We encourage participation from people of all genders and welcome anyone involved in recruitment, education, operations, project delivery or early careers. Your perspective can help shape the conversation and inform future actions. To learn more and register, click the link below. https://lnkd.in/euip_hR3 📅 6 October 09:30 to 14:00 #ConstructingEqualityIreland #GenderEquality #WomenInConstruction

Be part of the conversation at the first Constructing Equality Ireland roundtable on October 6th. An important conversation about attracting more women into construction and creating long term careers across our industry. Register for your ticket through the link below.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗜𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱? Success isn't simply about bringing organisations together. It's about turning conversations into practical actions that help attract, retain and progress more women across the built environment sector. Ahead of our inaugural industry roundtable on 6 October, hear from PJ Ryan, Head of ESG at the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), on why the industry has come together to establish Constructing Equality Ireland and what we hope to achieve through this collaborative initiative. Our first roundtable will focus on a critical challenge for the sector: how we can better support and attract more women into construction through early-career pathways, bringing together employers, educators, training providers, careers professionals and industry bodies to identify practical actions for change. If you'd like to contribute your perspective and help shape the future of our industry, registrations are still open. https://lnkd.in/dVyGcxQd #ConstructingEqualityIreland #WomenInConstruction #GenderEquality

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻? It's a question that no single organisation can answer alone. That's why Constructing Equality Ireland is bringing together voices from across industry, education, government and community organisations for our inaugural industry roundtable on 6 October. With registrations closing soon, this is your last chance to be part of the conversation as we explore the barriers, opportunities and practical actions needed to strengthen pathways into construction careers for women. In this video, hear from Joanne White, Founder and CEO of Women in Construction in Ireland (WICI), on why WICI became a Strategic Partner of Constructing Equality Ireland and why collaboration is essential if we want to create lasting change across our industry. The more perspectives we have in the room, the stronger the discussion, and the greater our opportunity to develop meaningful actions that can make a real difference. Register today: https://lnkd.in/euip_hR3 #ConstructingEqualityIreland #WomenInConstruction #GenderEquality

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗼 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻? The challenges facing women in construction are shared across our industry, which means the solutions need to be developed collectively too. Hear from Joe O'Donnell, Sustainability Advisor at Business in the Community Ireland, facilitators of Constructing Equality Ireland, about why they are supporting this initiative, recognising both the strong representation of built environment organisations within their membership and the power of collective action to address shared challenges. There's still time to register for our inaugural event on 6 October, where we will be exploring how the sector can better support women into construction through early career pathways. Register here: https://lnkd.in/euip_hR3 #ConstructingEqualityIreland #WomenInConstruction #GenderEquality