CICES Women’s Network
AS part of the institution’s equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategy we have an EDI Council, led by Simon Navin FCInstCES. Our equity, diversity and inclusion policy encourages all members to act with integrity and to demonstrate inclusive behaviour. The EDI policy is available on our website and outlines actions that members should consider, in order to act in an inclusive manner, such as being aware of unconscious bias and considering more inclusive language.
As part of the EDI strategy, we plan to develop various networks and the first to be launched is the Women’s Network, spearheaded by Genna Rourke FCInstCES.
This is the first network to be launched in recognition of the fact that more needs to be done to encourage women into civil engineering surveying and into the construction industry more widely. According to GoConstruct (the CITB funded website promoting careers in construction) women make up around 14% of UK construction industry professionals. Currently, CICES membership stands at around 12% female. And if you read the Civil Engineering Surveyor May 2023 journal, there were two articles in particular which also highlighted some of the issues facing women in engineering today.
Why have we set up a women’s network?
Genna Rourke spoke at the Manchester Lecture in February 2023 about women in construction and following this, she was approached by several young women asking for advice. They were working for smaller organisations, where they didn’t have other women who could offer support. This gave Genna Rourke the idea that CICES could be offering more to empower our female members and approached Simon Navin to discuss the idea of a women’s network.
According to GoConstruct (the CITB funded website promoting careers in construction) women make up around 14% of UK construction industry professionals. The formation of networks is included within the aspirations of the EDI Council, so it was agreed that the women’s network should be the first to be launched. Simon Navin, EDI Council chair commented: “I am delighted that we are launching dedicated networks that will support and enable greater equity, diversity and inclusivity across our membership, industry and beyond. The Women’s Network will be a trailblazer for others to follow and I know that through Genna’s leadership and enthusiasm we will create opportunities to champion gender equality, build allyship with other members and challenge outdated industry views and practices.”
On the formation of the network, Genna Rourke said: “I have worked in the industry for the last 15 years mainly for large contractors and have seen in recent years a greater representation of women and certainly more support for women and the different skills and way of thinking that ladies bring to the table. My mentors have generally been male until the last two years, and when I think back about female role models or ladies in roles that I could aspire to be they didn’t exist or didn’t offer any mentoring or support for junior staff members.
Whilst many large businesses now are offering women’s networks and mentoring programmes there are still many that do not and many smaller companies don’t have the resources or number of women to set them up. When approached at the Manchester Lecture for advice about how ladies could deal with certain issues, I thought CICES needed to offer something to its female members to provide that safe place and networking for women. Giving easy access to younger talent coming into the industry a direct link to female role models in their field of study or work which can support/guide and nurture them will hopefully help our retention rates in the industry as well. I hope this network can offer exactly what our members all need so we do want to hear from everyone so please complete the questionnaire when you receive it and I look forward to meeting you at our first event.”
A panel talking about diversity at Geo Business where the network was launched. LtoR: Simon Navin, Jacobs; Genna Rourke, UnitedLiving Group; Hazel Hendley, Ordnance Survey; Dr Pooja Mahapatra, Fugro and Alison Watson, Class of Your Own
What are the aims of the network?
The overall aim is to support women within CICES and to enable mentoring relationships, but we are looking for the views of our members to help draft the aims and plans.
In order to achieve this, we have generated a questionnaire that will be circulated shortly and would urge members to complete this to pass on your views of how you would like the network to develop.
Please take the opportunity to complete the questionnaire, we want to build this network to benefit our members and to offer what will support women, in order to have full engagement. It asks about what benefit people see in a network and what they would like to get from it in terms of mentoring, networking and education, so we would welcome your views.
Is it just for women?
The network is open to all, and we encourage men to get involved as allies to their colleagues and fellow members. Allyship in the workplace means using your personal privilege to support colleagues from historically marginalised communities.
Allies wield their influence to amplify the voices and elevate the employee experience of their underrepresented co-workers.
How can you get involved?
If you would like to get involved please register your interest on the questionnaire (when circulated) or contact us via womensnetwork@cices.org.
Katie Holt, Development Manager, CICES