8th Mar 2023

Celebrating International Women's Day 2023

On International Women's Day, we asked our people and partners what embracing equity represents and why it's important to them.

#EmbraceEquity is the theme of this year's International Women's Day. Head over to our social media channels and join in the conversation.

International Women' s Day 2023 campaign theme, #EmbraceEquity aims to get the world talking about why equal opportunities aren't enough. People start from different places, and true inclusion and belonging requires equitable action.

Here at Sir Robert McAlpine, we believe that everyone deserves equal opportunities. We asked our people and partners what equity means to them and why they think it's important. Watch the full video and join in the conversation. 

We can all challenge gender stereotypes, call out discrimination, draw attention to bias, and seek out inclusion. 


Equity is not just about giving everybody a toolbox, but giving everybody a toolbox that suits their needs.

Alex Ward

Alex Ward, Senior Social Value Manager, Sir Robert McAlpine


Battersea Project Team #EmbraceEquity


Embracing equity focuses on individuals. Including everyone will create a happier and healthy workforce. I embrace equity.

Paula McMahon

Paula McMahon, Structures Engineer, Sir Robert McAlpine



Embracing equity means looking at the accessibility of opportunity for all and recognising additional support may be needed for some people.

Penny Briscoe

Penny Briscoe, Chef de Mission for Paris 2024, British Paralympic Association



Equity is about giving everyone what they need to succeed individually, rather than just treating everyone the same.

Nicky Rance

Nicky Rance, Project Director, Sir Robert McAlpine


Project Director, Nicky Rance, has worked at Sir Robert McAlpine for 25 years. 

For International Women's Day, she reflects about her career and being a woman in construction:  

"Being a visible, successful woman in construction is also a positive. It’s hard to be what you can’t see, and we need more women coming through so that those behind them can understand that the career they want to pursue is possible."

Read the full interview in Construction News

Nicky Rance

International Women's Day - What does embracing equity represent to you?

don't be a lady be a legend
Equity focuses on individuals including
everyone will create a happier and
healthy Workforce I embrace Equity I
think I think it's really important
because it provides access to the same
opportunities for everyone and it just
removes barriers so that certain groups
can achieve their full potential
just about giving everybody a toolbox
but giving everybody a toolbox that
suits their needs
embracing Equity means looking at the
accessibility of opportunity for all and
recognizing additional support may be
needed for some people Equity is making
sure everyone is measured equally
embracing Equity means going Beyond
inequality and making sure that
everybody has the same opportunities and
the same chance of the same starting
line only then what we find through
Equity Equity is important to me because
uh
it's a tough old world and it's the
right thing to do and we all want to be
treated and Affair and Equitable way
Equity is important to me because I
think if we have a Level Playing Field
where everybody is treated equally then
I think we give of our best and we can
be the best person that we can be racing
Equity means that we are designing and
building infrastructure that is suited
to the societies we live in embracing
Equity means we are building a fairer
world for everyone embracing Equity to
me means
creating and providing safe spaces where
everybody can Thrive and be their best
within their workplace it's about
everybody having opportunity I think
it's about acknowledging that some
people
have less barriers or no barriers to
those opportunities and actually
acknowledging that I want everything to
be fair it doesn't always mean equality
and I think the best example is that
like having a brick wall and not
everyone can have the same size step
because shorter people need a taller
step to be able to see everything so I
by having an internal value of personal
value being fair
Equity is really important especially
within the business

Celebrating diversity and inclusion

  1. Celebrating International Women's Day with Lauren McCarthy

    16 Mar 2026

    Lauren McCarthy, Sustainability Manager on the Therme project, details her path into the industry, and the importance of sustainability in construction

    Read more about
  2. IWD with Kelly White

    10 Mar 2025

    After joining the industry by accident, Kelly White, Head of Bidding, shares how she has developed a passion for construction and become a fervent advocate for equity through our Affinity Networks.

    Read more about
  3. National Inclusion Week 2024

    26 Sep 2024

    As we celebrate National Inclusion Week 2024, we share stories from women in construction, reflecting our commitment to creating an inclusive workplace.

    Read more about

Latest news

  1. Celebrating the 125th anniversary of WHR's Mallaig extension

    01 Apr 2026

    The extension opened on 1st April 1901 and contains a series of major viaducts, including the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct

    Read more about
  2. Agratas celebrates milestone with topping out

    26 Mar 2026

    The team gathered to celebrate a topping out ceremony following steels completion in late January

    Read more about
  3. Attracting more military women into construction

    23 Mar 2026

    Last month, Rachael Smith, People and Culture Executive Director at Sir Robert McAlpine, and Katy Maloney, Trainee Quantity Surveyor, spoke at the Empowering You Conference with Forces Employment Charity.

    Read more about
View all news