Blog: Promoting Inclusion and Allyship in Construction

16 October 2024

Company director at Hawes Construction Group, Sarra Hawes, shares what allyship really means to her

Inclusivity and Allyship

It’s easy to say you’re an inclusive business. Yet what does that truly mean in practice?

Company director at Hawes Construction Group, Sarra Hawes, shares what allyship really means to her, and how she actively ensures she’s living her inclusive values – leading by example to those around her.

Many organisations and leaders claim they champion others with inclusive practices, announcing themselves as allies for oft-marginalised or underrepresented groups in their sector. Yet for me, and my team at Hawes Construction Group, these bold statements mean nothing unless we live by the values we say we hold.

Championing women and young people

I’ve always been a passionate advocate for women in construction. That’s perhaps unsurprising as a female co-director in a sector known for its gender disparity. Women in the industry are notoriously underrepresented, and I believe this is partially due to a lack of understanding of the opportunities available to them to not only enter the sector but progress – and succeed.

To place myself as an ally for these women, I use every opportunity I can to meet with them. I share my story as a woman, and a working mother, to show them what can be achieved with self-belief and hard work. I tell them what roles are out there for them, how they can find them, and how they can succeed within them – going into schools and colleges to engage with these young women in person.

Yet it’s not just women I seek to include – but young people on the whole. The construction sector must be seen as one of diverse opportunities, and all young people need to be given the chance to learn what they can do and how they can shine. That may be introducing a broader spectrum of trade skills and letting them know how to acquire them. Or, it might be giving examples of career paths towards senior positions in the industry. I want to show them nothing is out of reach.

Building strong relationships

I believe we all need to be allies for one another, even if our relationships may be built on the transactional. Those we work with need to feel part of an inclusive, shared process based on respect and mutual support for a working agreement that benefits us and, ultimately, our clients.

Allyship strengthens our reputation, through strong working bonds with everyone from planning consultants to architects. We need to champion fair treatment for the entire supply chain – and advocate for ourselves, too – so we all achieve the same results: a happy client, and a job well done.

Creating supportive alliances 

Everyone deserves a seat at the table. When we welcome inclusivity, we bring in a diversity of opinions and fresh perspectives that only serve to broaden our minds and strengthen our sector.

One way we do this at Hawes Construction Group is through my membership of the Constructing Excellence Sussex Club. Through everything from large events to well-considered speakers and discussion panels, we share thoughts, ideas and good practices that shape the way we work in the industry as a whole. We never skirt around the ‘big issues’, such as why the construction sector often falls short of sustainability targets or has high rates of poor mental health. Discussing these areas makes us allies for those in need and gives a voice to everyone and everything, the planet itself included.

I don’t believe that being a business owner, founder or director should be a position you hold if you can’t use your place to be an ally for others. Our values are strong here at Hawes Construction Group, and we work and live by integrity and honesty, pride in our work, professionalism in our approach, ownership, and being the best we can be. We can only achieve such things if we make the sector a great work environment for everyone – and we will always seek to do more, and do better. I hope that you can be an inclusivity champion, too.

Background

Sarra Joined Walter Llewellyn & Sons Ltd in 1988 as a Management Trainee and after completing her training became a Site Engineer/Manager, running a wide variety of contracts all over the South East of the UK.

Alongside starting a family in 1999, Sarra worked as a part-time Tenant Liaison Officer, based on site, up until 2003. Sarra then worked at David Johns Associates as a Surveyor/Office Assistant until 2005.

Following a family career break, Sarra founded Hawes Building Limited, alongside her husband Bruce Hawes (Managing Director), in April 2013. At Hawes, Sarra has the responsibility of overseeing financial matters, Business Development, Staff Training, and contract co-ordination.

With over 60 years’ experience of the construction industry between them, they felt well placed to set up their own company to provide a quality service for their clientele. Offering a solution and client focussed service with a fully accredited team behind them, working throughout Sussex and its surrounding borders.

Bruce and Sarra met 30 years ago working for a national construction company and both worked their way up from management trainees to work on and manage a variety of projects throughout the South East. From sectional managers on multi-million-pound supermarkets to more bespoke projects for Churches, Schools, commercial and residential clients, housing associations and even one linked with the building of the Medway Tunnel.