VolkerStevin hosts the launch of Constructing Change
VolkerStevin, the Environment Agency, Jacobs, Flannery Plant Hire, AE Yates, JN Bentley and Rochdale Borough Council are working together to deliver a new project aimed at encouraging girls and women into the construction industry.
Constructing Change is a new social value initiative which supports the future generation of construction workers. It not only aims to provide local female students with an experience of the construction industry and insight into what career opportunities are available, but works with all genders from areas of deprivation and different ethnic backgrounds to increase diversity as a whole across the construction sector.
Our team working on the Rochdale and Littleborough Flood Risk Management Scheme hosted the launch of the Constructing Change initiative, where students were taken on site to get an overview of the construction of the scheme.
The day also included presentations by members of the VolkerStevin, Jacobs and Flannery’s teams, as well as talks from the Environment Agency, AE Yates and JN Bentley. Interactive sessions also took place in a machine simulator and on-site laboratory.
Constructing Change is working to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion within the construction industry and empower underrepresented communities to have a career in construction - building a more inclusive and socially responsible industry for the future.
CEO and Founder of Constructing Change Elizabeth Griffin-Bennett said: “The launch of Constructing Change at Littleborough marks a key moment in our mission to transform construction. Through collaboration across the sector, we are bringing young people to live sites, showcasing career opportunities, breaking barriers, and embedding social value. This is just the beginning of a movement to build a more diverse, skilled, and resilient future for the industry.”
"It was fantastic to welcome students to our site and showcase the diverse career opportunities available within construction. Through initiatives like Constructing Change, we can inspire the next generation and break down barriers to create a more inclusive industry. We hope this experience encourages more young women to see construction as an exciting and rewarding career path."
James Melody VolkerStevin Project Manager for the Rochdale and Littleborough Flood Risk Management Scheme
Caroline Douglass, Executive Director Flood and Coastal Risk Management at the Environment Agency said: “I welcome the Environment Agency supporting this initiative to showcase opportunities in the construction industry to young women and ultimately improve diversity which will benefit everyone in the wider sector.”
On the 7 May the official launch of Constructing Change was held in London, bringing together a dynamic, cross-industry network committed to driving diversity, creating social value and making a lasting impact in our communities.
