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Championing gender equality: Mercury’s female leaders on how we back women for success
This week we hosted a Women in Leadership panel discussion to celebrate International Women’s Day, where six of our female leaders discussed the topics of women in construction, making our teams more inclusive and the importance of nurturing the careers of women at Mercury.
A common thread which emerged during the discussion was the sense that things are changing for women in the construction industry, and this is evident at Mercury. “The old perception of and attitudes towards females on-site is long gone. You feel respected and supported across project teams and at all levels,” said Joanne Cluxton, Group HR Director. A safe, inclusive, and respectful environment where questions are encouraged by management at all levels was widely acknowledged.
Some of the panellists who are long-term employees spoke about their career progression experiences and how Mercury has supported them to further their education while working towards the next step in their careers. “Mercury promotes inclusion by focusing efforts on the Graduate and Apprentice Programmes. It’s clear that the company recognises that our graduates are the future. I started at Mercury in 1999 as an Apprentice Electrician, working my way up to EHS lead. This was made possible by the backing of Mercury and its inclusive development programmes,” expressed Cathy Kane, EHS lead. Project Manager Monique Mentoor who joined the company more recently said, “Mercury has provided me with a platform to grow, learn, and develop into my professional career. I am fortunate to also have a manager who has provided the support I need to excel.”
„Working for a company that takes real life experiences of women into consideration by implementing policies to benefit them makes you feel like you’re being looked after and is another step in the right direction for gender equality.“
The talk also touched on Mercuy’s HR policies aimed at women in the workplace and how this is a sign of progress, not only within the construction industry but in terms of the wider workforce. “Women can often feel like they come to a point in their lives where they must make a decision and either their professional or personal life is going to suffer because of that decision. It can be difficult to balance all aspects of life. Equally, there are health related issues unique to women. Working for a company that takes real life experiences of women into consideration by implementing policies to benefit them makes you feel like you’re being looked after and is another step in the right direction for gender equality,” Monique said regarding Mercury’s suite of female-centric HR policies.
It was evident throughout this inspiring and engaging discussion that Mercury has taken tangible steps to advocate for gender equality by providing equal opportunities for career progression, cultivating an inclusive environment, and implementing policies designed to benefit women in the workplace. We back all our people to realise their vision of themselves and we continue to work to change the perception that our industry is one that only men can succeed in.
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
At Mercury, our drive towards diversity & inclusion is one of the key driving factors behind our winning culture.
We have put in place a Diversity & Inclusion Policy that is driven by our Executive Management Team. Diversity & Inclusion is woven into the fabric of the vision and values of Mercury, not only through our culture, but through the entire life cycle of the employee experience.
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