Now in its 48th year, International Women’s Day serves as an annual celebration of female equality and inclusion and will be taking place on the 8th March this year. This year’s theme is ‘Equity’, which highlights the importance of inclusivity in providing equal opportunities for all. Award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group, in collaboration with Women into Construction, has been taking steps to champion women and address the gender imbalance in the housebuilding sector, which is often perceived as a largely male-dominated industry. To raise awareness on this important topic and attract more women into construction roles, three female employees from Hill met for a filmed discussion, ‘Sofa Talks’, in which they shared their personal experiences as women working in the sector.
Showcasing the diverse range of roles undertaken by women within the company’s workforce, the discussion shed light on gender inclusivity at Hill by bringing together three women from different areas of their workforce.
With a background in property services, Salma Khan, Social Value and Community Manager joined the Hill Group six months ago. Reflecting on her experience so far, Salma comments: “Even though I had experience working in property services, starting a role in construction was initially a daunting thought. It was an adjustment working in a site cabin instead of a corporate office at first, especially as one of only a few women on site, but everyone has been very supportive and welcoming. I also mentioned the Hill apprenticeship programme to my daughter, who after interviewing, was delighted to be accepted into the scheme and is now considering a career in this industry long term. This is fantastic considering construction is an industry she had not previously considered.”
Maisie Webb, Assistant Quantity Surveyor, began her journey with Hill over five years ago as a trainee, and was awarded ‘Trainee of the Year’ in 2021. Discussing being a woman in the workforce, she explains: “Throughout my time at Hill I have seen the business continually strive for gender inclusion and there has been a significant increase in the number of women in the team. As a young woman, I feel my voice is really valued at Hill, and I was delighted to be selected as a member of the Sustainability Leadership Group in 2021 which gave me the opportunity to offer my perspective. I’ve also thoroughly enjoyed delivering school talks promoting work experience to encourage young girls to consider careers in construction.”
Victoria Anthony is Group Human Resources Director at Hill and manages the group’s people strategy at each stage of the employee lifecycle. Commenting on how ‘Equity’ is reflected in Hill’s approach, she notes: “Hill has been a leader in addressing gender balance in the industry for many years and continually strives for a more balanced workplace. We are working hard to make Hill a more inclusive place to work and gender equity is an integral part of our employer value proposition to encourage more women into this exciting industry.”
Andy Hill, Chief Executive at The Hill Group comments “The Hill Group is committed to creating equal opportunities and an inclusive working environment in which everyone can reach their potential regardless of their gender. Our strong partnership with Women into Construction has been ongoing since 2019, and has focused on training opportunities, placement, and boosting employment to increase female presence across the sector. This International Women’s Day, we feel it is crucial to champion the valuable contributions that women add to Hill and the wider industry.”
