Construction companies to attend careers fair at Student Pride

Six of the biggest construction firms in the country will be attending a careers fair, the biggest of its kind in the UK, during National Student Pride from February 5-7 as part of LGBT History Month.

The fair, which will be held at the University of Westminster’s Marylebone campus on February 6, between 12-5pm, will see Arcadis, Arup, Balfour Beatty, Laing O’Rourke, Lendlease and Skanska in attendance.

In 2015 the Architects’ Journal survey showed that on average 63% of workers in the construction industry heard or witnessed homophobia, with a sharp rise to 85% for those who worked as contractors.

As the sector grappled with these high levels of homophobia described as “rife” by respondents of the survey, the industry have decided to reach out to LGBT graduates in an attempt to change the image of the trade.

Christina Riley, a trans Senior Planner at Balfour Beatty CSUK and Co Chair of their LGBT Network, said: “Having 6 of the biggest firms attending the National Student Pride Careers Fair says a lot about the positive change in the industry. There is a significant skills gap growing across the industry in all vocations and the industry is waking up to the fact that we are missing out on a whole pool of talent in the LGBT community as well as from other minority groups.”

Tom Guy, the founder of National Student Pride Tom Guy who recently started his own architects business spoke of his delight at the news, agreeing with Christina that this was a big step for what has long been a difficult industry to be out in.

Tom was ‘out’ in his previous jobs to his colleagues but didn’t have the confidence to come out on site with contractors, adding: “I am hopeful that situation will change in the near future as attitudes begin to alter.”

A move to increase the number of LGBT graduates in the construction industry will not be enough alone to change attitudes. However, it’s part of a wider move across other parts of the industry with the new year bringing in mandatory RIBA guidelines for all chartered practices to have a diversity policy in place from 2016 onwards.

Hatti Smart, Student Co-Chair of National Student Pride, said: “It was the incredible gay rights activist and politician Harvey Milk who encouraged people to come-out, because every time you realise you know someone who is LGBT, a little bit of prejudice wears away” adding “Having the construction firms at Student Pride, may only be a small step, but it’s a vote of confidence in LGBT graduates in the industry and of change.”

National Student Pride, now in its 11th year, returns once again this year to, University Of Westminster and G-A-Y venues between February 5-7 and will feature panels on Coming Out, Mental Health and discussing the impact of LGBT YouTubers, with YouTubers themselves.

On the Sunday February 7, there will be an exclusive screening of Milk including a Q&A with Harvey Milk’s nephew and global activist in his own right, Stuart Milk who will be talking about his Uncle’s story.