Along with more than 400 BAM staff, I previously attended a daylong session on unconscious bias to help me to understand how it might impact the decisions and actions I take, and the effect these might have on those around me. The lessons I learned from this session I am already putting into practice, by increasing my attention to alternative ideas that are sometimes very different to my own. As a direct result, I’m seeing greater freedom in creativity and more willingness to challenge ideas in a healthy way.
Having sponsored the design and launch of BAM mentoring, I’m pleased to see that a year after its launch, we now have nearly 60 active matched pairings. They are giving us great feedback about the benefits they are experiencing including learning more about the business, themselves and others and how this is supporting them in their career. I would absolutely encourage everyone to get involved as either a mentee, mentor or both
To better understand the perspectives of the diverse range of people in our business and engage them in helping to steer our approach, BAM has launched four Employee Resource Groups. A member of the Senior Management Team sponsors each group and I am pleased to be leading the one on Gender and am looking forward to working with my team to put together a plan of works for the next 12 months, to support our journey towards Gender Equality.
BAM is also doing some brilliant work with Timewise, who we are partnering with to undertake an industry wide project. This will explore how we can enable the adoption of agile working throughout the industry, particularly on site. I think there are still some people who believe that it is mainly women who want agile ways of working but this is definitely not the case. The benefits it generates for individuals, our company and the working environment can’t be underestimated, especially in our 24/7 society.
An equal world is an enabled world. Gender equality and diversity benefits all of us and is self reinforcing. This International Women’s Day I challenge everyone to think about how they can help forge a gender equal world …
