In this article which first appeared in Building in June 2021, our Chairman, Sir James Wates CBE, reflects on issues surrounding recruitment.

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This year for International Women’s Day, the aim is to encourage all of us businesses, governments and individuals to ‘choose to challenge’.

Wates has dedicated an entire month to promoting diversity and inclusion with October set to become an annual ‘Inclusion Month’.

“No matter your role in the Armed Forces, whether you were a medic, a chef or a Lieutenant Colonel, you honed very specialist expertise in a high-pressure environment. You have skills that set you apart and those skills are more than welcome in the construction industry.”

“We believe in ‘giving something back’ to those brave and exceptional military personnel who have the potential to be future industry staff. People of this calibre can only benefit our industry.”

Wates overhauls its family friendly policies to give employees the flexibility and support they need to thrive in the workplace and at home.

Wates has announced a new three-year partnership with Young Womens Trust to support and inspire more women to take up careers in construction.

Nikunj Upadhyay, Head of Diversity and Inclusion, was interviewed about how company culture, flexible working and the right environment can be a catalyst for change.

As we mark the 75th anniversary of the D Day landing, we look back with pride at our role in bringing an end to World War Two, and supporting our armed forces. Our purpose today remains as it was then: to work together to inspire better ways of creating the places, communities and businesses of tomorrow.

Wates Group has signalled its intention to dramatically improve the gender balance of the workforce at all levels, with women accounting for 40% by 2025.

The Built Environment announced an Inquiry to examine how the recruitment and retention of more women into construction

The matter of transferable skills is the first question that anyone will ask themselves when they change careers and I was no exception when I took the decision to leave the Army in 2004. It had been my life for 17 years and it had undoubtedly shaped me as a person.

Wates has been named Organisation of the Year at the inaugural UK Social Mobility Awards.

John Dunne is Director of Health, Safety, Environment & Quality for the Wates Group. Here he discusses possible solutions to the construction industry’s skills gap.