Open Doors gave us the opportunity to discuss diversity in the construction industry and positive cultural and behaviour changes required to attract the next generation into the Construction industry.
We kicked off Open Doors week with a flying start by launching Open Doors on one of our most prestigious projects to date, The Old Admiralty Building.
Industry influencers attended the event including the President, CEO & MD of CIOB, CEO of Scape, CEO of Considerate Constructor Scheme (CCS) and our valued Customers.
A fitting location, held in Sir Winston Churchill’s office with our leaders including Group CEO, Rick Willmott, Interiors COO, Mike Hart and MD, Graham Shaw in attendance alongside other influential industry heads discussed diversity and embedding positive behavioural and cultural change in the Construction Industry.
Rick Willmott, Group CEO, spearheading EDI
Rebecca Thompson, President of CIOB of is an advocate on championing EDI throughout the industry and leading change in our heritage sector. Her determination, support and influence on this topic was remarkable as she encouraged people from all backgrounds to forge a career in Construction.
Having already delivered a powerful talk we see a great big smile from Rebecca Thompson, President of CIOB heading out to the roof at Old Admiralty Building on her site tour.
Group shot from one of the many tours our teams gave during Open Doors week!
After our site tours we held a round table discussion on how we break down the barriers and perceptions of our industry. Thanks to all our EDI Team who got involved and gave their support in the build up to this event.
Above | Round Table discussion with Anna Koukoullis, Community Investment Manager, Willmott Dixon Interiors; Tom Glover, Construction Youth Trust; Megan Kennedy,Management Trainee, Willmott Dixon Construction; Mike Green, Department for Education; Ina kurtlakova, Westminster University; Rebecca Thompson,President CIOB; Gillian Nissim – Founder Workingmums.com; Graham Shaw , Managing Director, Willmott Dixon Interiors; Richard Asomugha, MentorsHub; Closing the event, Chris Tredget – Managing Director, Willmott Dixon Construction Hitchin.
Actionable Outcomes from the Round Table included:
- Graham Shaw, Managing Director, Willmott Dixon Interiors called for the Construction Industry to collectively challenge their ‘unconscious bias’s’ and to reach out to broader talent pools, whilst improving the image of the industry.
- A ‘Call to Action’ from this year’s Sir Ian Dixon Scholarship Winner, Anna Koukoullis from Willmott Dixon Interiors, to get involved in her industry leading research focusing on diversity and supporting NEETs into Construction.
- Head of Design Management and EDI Team Lead , Willmott Dixon Interiors called for Government Procurement Departments to mandate EDI Inductions for main contractors and their supply chains across all public sector projects.
Industry leaders joining forces to promote diversity in construction.
The event also demonstrated powerful images from the #pressforprogress campaign where our people made pledges to promote positive behaviour in the industry.
This year we had three fantastic projects all opening their doors for the public to get a rare chance to see behind the scenes at live construction sites all across the UK.
- Old Admiralty Building
- St Martins Place
- Twickenham Stadium
Read what our other sites got up to here