Q&A: Jenn Harris

Programme Manager, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Project spoke with Jenn Harris about her research into factors affecting gender diversity in the male-dominated profession of construction.

Q How did your career lead you to be interested in gender diversity?

A While working in construction, I was surrounded by young, ambitious women who had done apprenticeships and come in as trainees. But there were no female senior leaders or directors. I wanted to look at barriers to women entering, but also to them progressing.

Q What did your research find?

A I surveyed 131 construction consultants. One area that stood out as significant was ‘global self-worth’; that is, respondents’ perception of worth, such as liking how they’re leading their life or liking the kind of person they are. There’s a clear trend that women’s perception of global self-worth decreases as they get older. Men showed a slight dip between the age groups 18-24 and 25-34, but then their sense of global self-worth increases continuously (see graph below).

Q What does this mean for project-centric industries like construction?

A Gender‑diverse companies are 25% more likely to achieve above-average profitability. Also, construction companies with women in executive roles experience above-average financial performance.

Q How can companies make a difference?

A Women who are returning to work have a lot to bring to the table. A lot has been said about T-Levels and recruiting new graduates. But what happens when someone leaves to have a child? Or to people who are seeking a new career after being in the military? That experience can give people so many skills that are usable in construction projects. Women who are returning to work have a lot to bring to the table. We all have such long careers now. Don’t discount people because they’ve had a break in their career.

THIS ARTICLE IS BROUGHT TO YOU FROM THE SPRING 2023 ISSUE OF PROJECT JOURNAL, WHICH IS FREE FOR APM MEMBERS.