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Building a future for women in construction in Cambridge

Category: Gender (Equality & Identity)

Sarah Taylor

Wates Construction, the leading contractor for the delivery of Brookgate’s One the Square office development in Cambridge, is calling for more women to consider a career in construction in a bid to increase gender equality in the industry. 

The call to action comes as Cambridge-based project surveyor, Sarah Taylor, completes a year on Wates’ national Junior Board, through which she works to develop best practice within the business.

"I have worked in construction since I graduated in 2009 and have found it to be such a diverse and rewarding industry to be part of. One of the most exciting things about my job is having the opportunity to influence the industry, be it through my position as a woman in construction or my role on Wates’ Junior Board.” 

Sarah, who has a degree in civil engineering and quantity surveying, was appointed to Wates’ Junior Board in January 2016. Established in 2002, the Junior Board is a group of employees who work with the Wates Group’s Chief Executive to influence change within the business.

Through the 18-month position, Sarah works with a network of colleagues on a range of projects, including designing and developing new health and safety work-wear standards.

Keen to encourage more people into the industry, Sarah is also a construction ambassador both through her role at Wates and with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). These efforts see Sarah take part in school visits and career workshops to talk about how she got into the industry.

"I am very proud to be able to actively encourage young people to consider construction for their future careers, especially when it comes to breaking down barriers that may exist for girls – a lot of whom still consider construction to be an industry that isn’t open to them.

“The CITB recently reported that on average women make up 19.9%* of the construction workforce, the highest level in 20 years. It’s amazing to see more women join the sector and I would definitely urge those that have ever mistaken construction as a male-only industry to reconsider and seek out the many opportunities available to them.”

As a Project Surveyor, Sarah is responsible for ensuring that Wates Construction’s projects are delivered within budget while also working with local supply chain partners to create value for money for Wates’ clients.

Are you interested at a career at Wates Group? Please click here.

Vercida works with over one hundred clients who are committed to creating an inclusive work environment. If you are an employer and interested in working with Vercida to promote your diversity and inclusion initiatives and attract the best candidates, please call 02037405973 or email [email protected] for more information.

We are also officially recommended by Disability Confident as a step on achieving Employer status, please click here for more information.

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VERCIDA works with over one hundred clients who are committed to creating an inclusive work environment. If you are an employer and interested in working with VERCIDA to promote your diversity and inclusion initiatives and attract the best candidates, please email [email protected] for more information.

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