Since the introduction of its FIR strategy, the company has implemented a number of changes across the business. These include improvements in maternity and shared parental leave, setting recruitment equality targets, and launching an unconscious bias education programme.
According to figures from Women in Science and Engineering (WISE), last year women held 11% of construction industry roles. In the hope of improving this figure, the next phase of Hanson’s FIR strategy will see new corporate photography, showing a more diverse workforce replace images in current marketing and job advertising photos. In addition, the unconscious bias education will support managers to be aware of how their own views may impact recruitment or personal development.
“Several more ideas are also in the early stages, as we work to ensure we create a fully inclusive culture,” said Becky Murphy, an aggregates’ field sales manager who helped to launch the strategy this year. “On improving the recruitment, retention, and progression of women, we are working through the 10 steps recommended by WISE and the industry best practice group we joined in March 2018.”
