TClarke sets industry record 25% women in apprenticeships and training target
6/2/22 : UK Engineering Services company TClarke is taking the opportunity of National Apprenticeship Week 2023 to reset the ambition in construction for women in apprenticeships and training.
The new target of 25% women in their apprenticeship and training roles by 2028 is highly ambitious – even for TClarke as the industry’s acknowledged leaders on apprenticeship and training. However, TClarke’s Group Managing Director, Mike Crowder and Non Executive Director Aysegul Sabanci are determined to take on the challenge, recognising the scale of the prize on offer and the national need for action.
Taking the lead : setting a highly ambitious target
Aysegul Sabanci has had a lifetime of experience in engineering and sees the scale of the challenge:
“Construction needs to do way better in creating apprenticeship and training opportunities for women. In a week when a lot of people are talking about apprenticeships, TClarke is determined to take action and set a target based in can-do spirit. This is a major challenge with no simple solutions and we will need partners and collaboration over several years, but we also realise that if not TClarke, who in our industry will take the lead?
“We are leaders on apprenticeship and training. Our scheme is the best regards most effective and most sought after across major Engineering Services companies, leading as it does, to full time careers and progression to the very top of our executive team.
“So we’re challenging ourselves to raise the bar so that women (and young women at school in particular) can see the incredible potential for a diverse, active, challenging and rewarding career in Engineerings Services. We could easily have set a lower target – but this isn’t a PR exercise – we are looking to substantially widen the range of talent we bring into our business and in evolving the way we present opportunities to women, we expect to learn and evolve ourselves. We are looking to achieve systemic progress.
Marking a key milestone in the 134 year history of TClarke
Mike Crowder recognises this as a key moment in the growth of a company that prides itself in a deep and longstanding culture that has evolved steadily since its foundation in 1889.
“If you look across our projects – which include some of the most advanced in the industry – you will see that construction really is now changing. We are now creating truly smart buildings and digital evolution is creating new roles and careers onsite, in the office and across all kinds of disciplines. There has never been a better time to present these opportunities to women. So despite the scale of challenge we also have reason to feel real optimism.
Apprenticeships are the foundation of our engineering culture
“For many years, we have been working, with some success, on the challenge of expanding our talent pool and bringing more women into our business across all roles. But we can see a bigger prize, if we can find a way to bring substantially more women into our apprenticeship and training programmes – which provide the foundations for our culture and leadership training programme.
“If we can do this, then we are certain it will increase the quality of our engineering services and give us ongoing business advantages – as well as offering women across the UK excellent long-term career opportunities. The prize of a fully diverse workforce, fit for the future, accessing the greatest range of talent and capable of delivering TClarke Engineering Services is one which we want to win.
A journey with partners with the potential to reset the whole industry standard
“By collaborating with partners across our industry and taking the lead on such a major issue, we also recognise that what we achieve here will create far wider value and our successes will help reset everyone’s standards and expectations.
“ As we start our journey, we’re standing alongside long-term partners Stanhope and the Construction Youth Trust, both of whom have helped us with advice and support. Now we are delighted to go public – knowing that this is just the start of the journey.
Tony Wall, Director, Stanhope:
“TClarke is well recognised as a market leader in apprenticeships – so this announcement has real weight and optimism attached. We all recognise the target is challenging – but we also know that working towards this is crucial for the whole industry. Stanhope are working with TClarke on construction projects where the next generation of digital and technology solutions are changing the way our industry operates, and the way we attract new talent to the industry also needs to keep pace. If we can change perceptions, then this 25% target can help spur the whole industry into the progress that’s needed right now – for our sector, but most particularly for women.”
Carol Lynch, CEO of Construction Youth Trust
“We work to inspire and enable young people to overcome barriers and discover a career in the construction and built environment sector – that’s our mission. An important focus for Construction Youth Trust is partnering with employers to target and support young people who are traditionally under-represented in the construction industry, so we’re delighted to support TClarke in their endeavour to increase women entrants into their construction and training programmes. We all know that changing out-dated career stereotypes will take time, but our hope is that we will all learn together, share knowledge and build momentum around this urgent challenge.”