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Wolseley today announced that it is a founding member of the new Construction Industry Coalition (CIC), which will represent more than 250,000 workers in seeking to drive diversity across the sector.

Wolseley has joined forces with eight leading organisations in the initiative, which aims to improve equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) across the construction industry. Other founding members are Baxi, Bradfords, the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF), Ibstock, Knauf, the National Merchant Buying Society (NMBS), Travis Perkins plc, and Wavin.

In its first year, the CIC will focus its efforts on addressing gender representation within the construction sector.

Simon Oakland, CEO of Wolseley Group, said: "Being a founding member of the Construction Inclusion Coalition is just one aspect of Wolseley’s commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Attracting a more diverse range of people to the construction sector is fundamental to the future of our industry. We will only achieve our shared goals around inclusion by working with our customers and partners across the wider construction sector.”

The construction industry in the UK is facing a significant recruitment challenge as nearly a million construction workers, approximately one-third of the UK's total workforce, are set to retire in the next decade. However, with the industry currently comprising only 15 per cent women and 6 percent of people from ethnic minority backgrounds, the urgency of the coalition's mission to attract and recruit more diverse talent is clear.

Recent polling data also emphasises the importance of driving EDI in the industry. The research among more than 2,000 adults, revealed that only 36 per cent of British people were confident that their female family members or friends would be safe and respected if they entered the construction industry. In addition, 46 per cent of respondents indicated that they would be more inclined to seek employment opportunities in the construction sector if it demonstrated a stronger commitment to diversity and inclusion.

 

ENDS

 

About Wolseley

Wolseley is a leading specialist provider of renewables, plumbing, heating, cooling, and utility products to trade customers. Trading under a number of leading brands including Wolseley Plumb & Parts, Wolseley Pipe Centre, Wolseley Climate Centre, William Wilson, Jointing Tech, Burdens, and Fusion Utilities. Wolseley has nearly 700 branches across the UK and Ireland, three centres of excellence in the utilities sector, support centres in Warwick and Ripon, and four distribution centres.

In each of the sectors it supplies, Wolseley acts as a trusted partner, providing a range of enhanced services and expertise to help customers to win more work, trade more efficiently and be more profitable as the UK transitions to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources. Customers benefit from the skills, knowledge, and expertise of Wolseley’s people, the range of complementary products and service offerings, its scale, its bespoke logistics network, and a market-leading suite of digital services.

 

Contact:

Steve Earl/Cameron Stone

BOLDT Partners

steve.earl/cameron.stone@boldtpartners.com

 

About the Construction Inclusion Coalition

The Construction Inclusion Coalition is an industry wide effort with a singular objective to improve equity, diversity and inclusion across the construction industry, to ultimately retain and attract talent, and ensure the longevity of the industry. It is currently formed of 9 founding members including: Baxi, Bradfords, Builders Merchants Federation, Ibstock, Knauf, the National Merchant Buying Society, Travis Perkins plc, Wavin, and The Wolseley Group.

For more information about the Construction Inclusion Coalition and how to join, please go to www.builtonbetter.uk