Building a more balanced workplace

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, the occasion once again highlights the vital importance of gender equality in the workplace. While progress has been made across the business landscape, much work remains to be done.

Here, in the latest issue of our sister publication N, two female leaders in traditionally male-dominated industries reflect on their experiences and identify the steps that still need to be taken to deliver a fairer and more balanced commercial sector.

Opening up a wider conversation

Laurie Thomson, marketing and communications manager at SMD

International Women’s Day is an important celebration.

It’s a reminder that with diversity comes balance, and that equal representation within businesses is an essential component of success.

For me, working in a male-dominated industry has provided a unique vantage point to observe progress while acknowledging the steps still to be taken.

Despite making up 50 per cent of the population, women in the UK represent just 29 per cent of the STEM workforce.

Although this number must increase, it represents a positive societal shift, which we have benefited from first-hand at SMD.

Across our 250-strong team, more women occupy technical roles than ever before.

This is a testament to the changing perceptions that years of activism have unlocked.

Progress – albeit slow – is visible.

I believe our attitudes are directly linked to industry representation.

Research shows children establish views on gender roles by the age of seven, and this acts as a barrier for girls considering STEM careers.

At SMD, we are passionate about engaging with primary school children, giving careers talks and inspiring excitement about STEM.

Last year, while celebrating Women in Engineering Day, we ran a competition where local pupils were encouraged to draw an engineer to challenge stereotypes and foster inclusivity.

We also regularly exhibit at STEMFest, an interactive event that showcases the joys of a STEM career.

Teaching young people that they can achieve anything, regardless of gender, will help us reap the rewards of a balanced workplace.

Sometimes, I see gender equality mistaken for encouraging women to ‘do it all’ – juggling personal and professional commitments by reducing hours, adapting shift patterns or sacrificing a social life.

In reality, creating equal opportunities means normalising shared responsibilities.

We must open up a wider conversation about distributing personal and family commitments so that everyone, irrespective of gender, thrives.

While businesses play a key role in inciting positive change, I believe becoming an equitable society requires a macro-level shift.

Maternity pay, paternity leave and childcare provisions are just some of the policies that remain disconnected from the day-to-day needs of families.

Inadequate social infrastructure is stunting opportunities for women, preventing them from pursuing career ambitions alongside family life.

Addressing this gap is an essential component of an inclusive workforce. This International Women’s Day, I encourage everyone to celebrate progress while continuing to ask, ‘how can we do better?’

We need consistent, meaningful action

Patti Burt, senior business development manager at PD Ports | Leader of the PD Ports Women’s Network Group

Women are significantly under-represented in the port and maritime sector, with studies showing they account for only 11 per cent of the industry workforce.

Of that number, it is estimated fewer than one per cent are working in operational roles.

That historic imbalance is one the port sector has made moves to improve in recent years – the industry is a drastically better place for women than it was when I started my career.

But there is work still to be done.

From poor facilities for women, to outdated attitudes by some of the male workforce and an unconscious bias many women still hold about their own ability to take on ‘men’s roles’, there are plenty of challenges before the UK port sector can be considered truly welcoming to women.

For my own part, I used to be timid, a people pleaser, but over the last 19 years, working in the sector, I’ve gained confidence and I’ve seen things that made me think, ‘hang on, that’s not right, that needs to change’.

And so, encouraged by Liz Law, PD Ports’ chief financial officer – and first female board member – I forged ahead with setting up the Women’s Network Group, bringing women and male allies from across PD Ports together in the spirit of action and collaboration.

In an otherwise male-dominated environment, creating that space to freely discuss issues, big and small, female specific or not, is so important.

PD Ports – owner and operator of Teesport – has a strong track record of empowering women and encouraging individuals to develop their careers; we want to see people push themselves forward and try something outside their comfort zone.

We’ve hosted special events with women from across the business, each in different roles, so they can speak about their career path and the challenges they’ve faced along the way, to spark conversations and inspire others.

One of our key projects is to tackle the lack of good PPE available for women – we’re still too reliant on PPE designed for men’s bodies.

I want to make sure every woman who joins this business and goes to the stores on her first day, can find every bit of kit she needs, in a size and shape to adequately fit her, just like her male colleagues.

While International Women’s Day is a chance to put a spotlight on key issues, to really make a difference needs consistent, meaningful action for the long-term.

If being part of the Women’s Network Group at PD Ports gives one person the confidence to speak out, or change their career to the road less ordinary, then we’ve done our job.

Looking to promote your product/service to SME businesses in your region? Find out how Bdaily can help →