C2S Leadership Month – Culture, Diversity, and Inclusion
Smashing perceived barriers of Culture, Diversity, and Inclusion within the Construction Sector with AccXel, Barnwood Group and Organised Consulting
WATCH THE RECORDING OF THIS EVENT ON C2S.TV BELOW:
Speakers 1
Nicola Bird and Natalie Bell, Founders and Directors of AccXel
Nicola Bird and Natalie Bell have been smashing all perceived barriers of culture, diversity and inclusion. Having established themselves as leaders within the typically male-dominated environment of construction, Nicola and Natalie have gone on to found, build and lead the UK’s first industry-led construction school. With a majority of female employees and ambitious goals targeting culture, diversity and inclusion within construction, Nicola and Natalie shared their journey so far and told us how they have achieved their mammoth goals at AccXel.
About Nicola Bird
Nicola is AccXel’s Founder and Managing Director, as well as Safety & Business Development Director for Bell Contracting and K W Bell Group which specialises in contracting, civil engineering and groundwork operations to the major housebuilders, whilst constructing their own developments with Bell Homes.
Nicola has a Master’s Degree in Construction Safety Management from the University of South Wales, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Leading Business from the University of Gloucestershire. As an avid champion for local government and early careers strategy, Nicola is a Board Member of GFirst LEP, committee member for the GFirst Careers Hub (part of the Careers & Enterprise Company) and co-Chair of the Future Skills Group within Constructing Excellence South West.
About Natalie Bell
Natalie is the other half of the sister-duo who have built the UK’s first construction school, AccXel Ltd, and is the Growth & Partnership Director.
Natalie has used her legal skills as a qualified Barrister in her construction career to date. Having built a new development region in South Wales with a GDV of £250m as Senior Management within Kier Living, Natalie has expertise in construction within both national and regional contractors and housebuilders. Natalie is an advocate for women in construction, especially at Board and Senior Management level, and was the Chair of Women in Property South Wales in 2019.
As a Director of AccXel, Natalie is passionate about their huge industry goals to solve the skills crisis and is Co-Chair of the Future Skills Group within Constructing Excellence South West as well as a committee member for Constructing Excellence Gloucester Club.
About AccXel and K W Bell Group
AccXel is a state-of-the-art centre of excellence to inspire, train and connect people entering and advancing within the UK construction industry. Developed by the industry, for the industry, AccXel will accelerate learning and equip men and women with knowledge and practical experience of the latest technological advances in sustainability and digital construction.
Located in Cinderford, Gloucestershire, the pioneering centre is co-funded by K W Bell Group and the Government’s Getting Building Funding awarded by Gloucestershire’s Local Enterprise Partnership (GFirst LEP).
Speaker 2
About Ben Ramsey, Barnwood Group
Ben leads the Construction Division of Barnwood Group, a £65m per year business operating in the South and Southwest of the Country.
With over 25 years’ experience in the Industry, much of this time was spent working for 3 national contractors, before finally settling with Barnwood.
Developing a more balanced and diverse workforce is a key focus to ensure our industry has resourceful and talented people working to improve our image, productivity and the quality of the built environment we leave behind.’
About Barnwood Construction
Through three distinctive divisions, Construction, Shopfitting & Interiors and General Works, Barnwood’s resourcefulness, drive for quality and in-house expertise adds up to a very different company. Their core values reflect our commitment to deliver social value across our business operations. This is underpinned through the company ethos ‘The Barnwood Way’.
Ben joined us to discuss what Barnwood Group have been doing to support diversity and inclusion, some of the topics Ben discussed were below.
1. Worked with MEPC, one of our Customers, on a 12- month D&I programme called ‘Changing the Game’. Focused on women into construction but dealt with the main principles of inclusive leadership.
2. Introduced a companywide Code of Conduct under the Banner #buildingrespect
3. Developed a D&I plan which is integrated into the overall business plan.
DOWNLOAD BEN’S SLIDES HERE: Ben Ramsay slides Circle2Success Event Slides (1)
Speaker 3
About Rachel Harber, Director of Organised Consulting
Rachel Harber FCIPD
Director
07977 516591
www.linkedin.com/in/rachelharber/
Rachel is a CIPD fellow with over two decades of HR and recruitment expertise. Rachel provides flexible HR Solutions, bespoke services, and advice, designed to meet the immediate, interim, or long-term needs of organisation, with a passion for culture, diversity and inclusion. With her many years’ experience in the construction and manufacturing sectors she has an understanding of the challenges and bias in these sectors.
People are the building blocks of your business. Achieving success isn’t just about recruiting the right individuals, it’s how everyone functions together as a team – and stays focused on doing the right things, in the right way.
Rachel talked about unconscious bias and what to do about it, how to check and balance the culture within your organisation. What is the right language today, good practice and being an authentic diverse and inclusive organisation – where to start! Practical advice, tools, and tips to help you start to create a handbook, step – by – step guide to best practice and the best way forward!
Check out Rachel’s slides which are packed full of insights, useful links and tops tip – a real gem of useful information.
Rachel’s Slides: rachel Harber C2S diversity presentation (1)
Unconscious Bias Video
Leadership Month 2022 Events
Join us for more exciting events throughout March 2022
Check out what’s coming up here: https://www.circle2success.com/events/
