Hundreds of men and women from across the UK construction and proptech industries will walk 10km through central London in the Hard Hats & Open Minds charity walk
The walk is a public commitment from contractors, consultants and supply chain partners to redefine the construction industry and build a better future for women in construction.
Organised by LMG, Hard Hats & Open Minds will take place on 15 September after being postponed due to the June heatwave.
Mike Hook, co-owner of LMG, said: “I’m incredibly proud that LMG has created the Hard Hats & Open Minds Charity Walk for Change.
“As our industry looks ahead, we know one thing is clear. We need to attract the next generation of talent, and we must continue making construction a career that more women choose, and more girls aspire to join.”
Hard Hats & Open Minds: What happens on the day?
Beginning at House of Sister’s Grimm theatre at 10:00 am and winding past ten construction-related landmarks before finishing back at the theatre, the 10km Walk for Change is expected to draw between 200 and 500+ participants, including Overbury, Structure Tone, and Canary Wharf Contractors.
Walkers are raising funds for Killed Women, the charity representing families bereaved to tackle violence against women and girls. Furthermore, the walk is supported by WalkSafe; the WalkSafe+ app helps people stay safe and connected wherever they are.
Register for the walk for free here.
Women make up less than 15% of the construction workforce – this needs to change
The UK construction industry needs almost 239,000 additional workers by 2030, yet women in construction still represent fewer than 15% of the workforce.
For the industry to secure the talent it needs, we must continue to make construction a more attractive career destination for women and an aspirational career choice for girls.
As one of the largest traditionally male-dominated industries and a major contributor to the UK economy, construction has both the opportunity and the responsibility to lead by example by continuing to build a workplace where women feel welcomed, respected and able to build successful careers.
The future of women in construction
Through strong male allyship and visible leadership, we can all help inspire more women and girls to see construction as an industry they can feel proud to be part of.
“We have an opportunity to lead by example, by championing strong male allyship, providing positive role models and rewarding career pathways for young men, and demonstrating the values we want future generations to see,” Hook explained.
“The construction industry has come a long way; now it’s time to build on that progress and help secure an even stronger future.”
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