Women in Construction and Engineering
President Elect Alex Naraian reports on the Women in Construction and Engineering Awards.
You may well ask what WICE stands for, who these awards are for and of course question why? WICE stands for Women in Construction and Engineering. The awards extend to Europe.
There isn’t an equal gender balance in construction in the UK and Europe. The Industry has traditionally been plagued by the perception that it is a bit of a ‘closed shop’ and is heavily male orientated. The statistics speak for themselves.
I have very strong views on this subject in that there is no room for inequality in society. I believe that it should always be about a person’s ability, attracting the very best talent and nothing else. Gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation should never be a reason for a person not to be treated equally. I long to see a truly inclusive society.
I am privileged to be a judge at the WICE awards. These play a part in providing the opportunity to do something to bring about positive change.
A paragraph from the WICE awards website succinctly sums up why these awards are so important:
'The aim of the awards is to make these industries more enticing to women. To create role models for women considering a career in these sectors, while encouraging companies to employ and train more women in these industries.'
They provide the opportunity for our membership to be well represented. Being a part of these awards means that we are able to showcase our Institute, profession, but above all, celebrate the excellent women of our discipline and indeed the construction industry. It’s also about changing perception, showcasing the discipline and improving our identity and presence.
The deadline for nominations has been extended until 10 February 2017. There has already been a number of nominations. I do hope that this will inspire even more to be made.
If you are interested in nominating or being nominated, details on how to do this can be found at:
http://wiceawards.com/nomination-form.html#.WJMW1Y_XLIU
Further information about the awards can also be found at: