An interview with our expert Matt Wainwright

04/03/22

During Women in Construction Week, we wanted to interview the experts within our business and ask them on their opinions regarding diversity/equality within the Construction industry. At Nicholas Associates, we do our utmost to ensure we provide equal opportunities to all of our female candidates and have worked with so many inspirational female clients.

We interviewed Matt Wainwright our Head of Construction Recruitment…

Introduce yourself?

“My name is Matt Wainwright, I am Head of the Nicholas Associates Construction division. I am an experienced and passionate recruiter / business manager with 25 years recruitment solutions experience in the built environment. I manage all matters from initial client contact to delivery and payment.”

Regarding skill shortage, which skill sets do you think are under the most stress?

“The feedback from our customers across commercial, design and operations is that if they had more or better quality staff capable of delivering work within the commitment of the contract they would take more work on. That would suggest there is a skill shortages and the problem is acute, whilst I believe there are fewer people entering the industry, particularly young women and women from non white British ethnic origin. I do believe and see evidence that construction organisations are diverse and inclusive. The introduction of MMC (Modern Methods of Construction) off site construction and the digitilisaton of processes and procedures has improved quality, performance, efficency and sustainability making the built environment a dynamic innovative sector to work in, one that continues to create loads of opportunities for men and women, young and old.”

In your experience, have you witnessed any bias towards women in Construction?

“No, quite the opposite, we placed a lady into a senior position last year with a £200 million turnover business and the Managing Director was delighted that a women had got the job saying “a women in this role brings something different to the party”. Attitudes towards women in the work place has changed significantly, there are more women in work, there are more women in senior positions. There is more parity in pay with their male counterparts. There are many campaigns aimed at getting women into the work place and ‘Women in Construction’ is one that Nicholas Associates support.”

What are your thoughts on Gender Equality in the built environment sector?

“It’s a challenge! What we can all do is educate and communicate with women, old and young about the potential career opportunities that are available. Assure and let women old and young know that they will not be consciously or unconsciously discouraged from education, training or work opportunities based solely on their gender. Pursuade and sell the career in the construction industry as a credible option and an opportunity to progress and be rewarded. Celebrate and showcase successful women in construction and highlight women in the industry that have achieved great things…..there’s plenty of them!”

At Nicholas Associates, how do we as a business pledge to support women in the industry?

“Our mission is simple, it is to “enable people to be their best”. All people and to that end we will: acknowledge, understand and respect you, your knowledge, experience, capability and motivation. Understand the assignment, your expectations and your desired outcome. Work at pace to deliver a recruitment solution. Keep it simple and transparent throughout the process. Give honest feedback and look to continuously improve the process. Work as a genuine partner with a shared agenda and finally, Nicholas Associates encourage diversity, inclusion and welcome applications with the promise that all will be looked at in isolation and considered on merit and processed accordingly”