14th Mar 2024

International Women’s Day: inspiring inclusion in the workplace

In her latest article for CIOB People, Joanna Kuzelewska, Senior Design Manager, shares her view of how inclusivity in construction has improved, and why there’s more work to be done.

On the occasion of International Women's Day, Joanna Kuzelewska, Senior Design Manager, wrote on inspiring inclusion in the workplace.

Joanna writes: "And with this year’s International Women’s Day focusing on ‘inspiring inclusion’ and investing in women to accelerate progress, there is no better time to reflect on my journey into the industry, the leaps and strides women have made to be heard, and how we must collectively continue to progress for the sector to become a fully inclusive environment for all.

"At my first job, 20 years ago, I had to travel to a nearby shopping centre just to access a female bathroom – a fitting indication of how few women there were in construction at the time."

She adds: "This was a particularly daunting feat having just moved from Poland to the UK, where I struggled to find a job initially but was determined to be part of a sector that I was – and remain – passionate about.

"I couldn’t be happier that those days are long gone – and it is difficult to picture a situation like that repeating itself."

Read the article in full via CIOB People.

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