Revealing Invisible Career Pathways through Taylor’s Learning Partnership Program with Roseville College

Introduction

In a groundbreaking initiative, Taylor partnered with Roseville College to create a learning partnership program to promote women in construction. Jacklyn Wickham, Head of Marketing & Communications, led this initiative alongside Jessica Evans, Relationship Manager, and Olivia Losurdo, Marketing Coordinator. Supported by Taylor’s Executive Team, this initiative highlights the company’s commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion within the construction industry.

The Journey

The initiative focused on a complex problem-solving project using a design thinking framework. Taylor is in the final stages of delivering the College’s Sport and Wellbeing Centre, and during the construction phase, various initiatives were conducted with different year groups. The most successful and rewarding project was the complex problem-solving initiative completed with Year 9 and 10 students. 

The Challenge

We presented a real industry issue to 20 Year 9 and 10 students: Attracting and retaining women in construction. Using the NSW Government’s target of achieving 15% female representation by 2030, the students were tasked with using the design thinking framework to develop solutions to this challenge.

The Process

The journey began with an engaging brainstorming session where students were asked to share their thoughts on what women in construction ‘Think’, ‘Feel’, and ‘Do’. This initial ‘Empathise’ phase was a collaborative effort that revealed the students’ perceptions and set the stage for deeper exploration. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with students expressing excitement and anticipation for the project.

As the students delved deeper, they explored the gender disparity in the construction industry through various mediums, such as videos, readings, and interviews. They participated in site tours and had the opportunity to interview professionals from different roles, including site managers, engineers, contract administrators, and marketing personnel. This hands-on experience was invaluable, providing the students with a comprehensive understanding of the industry.

With a solid foundation of knowledge, the students moved on to identify specific issues of interest and formulated driving questions to explore further. They brainstormed possible solutions, selecting the most feasible and interesting ones. This creative process allowed them to think critically and innovatively about the challenges faced by women in construction.

Next, the students brought their ideas to life. During the ‘Prototype’ phase, they developed detailed solutions, complete with visuals. This was exciting as they saw their concepts take shape and prepared for the final presentation.

Their hard work culminated when the students visited Taylor’s head office. Here, they presented their solutions to a mock panel of industry professionals. This experience provided them with valuable feedback for improvement and a taste of the corporate world. The common theme of their ideas centered around the lack of education about construction as a career pathway for girls. Many of their solutions focused on creating awareness and providing clear career pathways. Some of the insights from this session included the realisation that “Education is the first step to change” and that many women in construction did not knowingly enter the industry, but instead ‘fell’ into it after finding jobs that suited their interests and expertise.

To conclude this remarkable journey, the students presented their final pitches to Roseville College’s Deputy Principal and Taylor’s CEO. The event was a celebration of their hard work and creativity, and each student was awarded a certificate of completion.

Innovative Ideas from Students

The students came up with several innovative ideas to address the challenge of attracting and retaining women in construction:

• Invisible Career Pathways in Construction: One group proposed a campaign focused on storytelling and personal experiences to highlight how many women ‘fell into’ construction. They suggested a hands-on practical workshop, a ‘Careers Fair’ funded by sponsorships, and a student committee to help plan and organise the event.
• Introducing Construction as a Career Path for Primary Schools: Another group suggested a concept similar to the ‘Healthy Harold’ program, involving a construction truck that travels to schools. The truck would be decorated with engaging designs and sponsored by various construction companies. The program would include fun and relatable characters, games, activities, and role-play features to make construction appealing to younger students.
• Targeting Year 9 & 10 Girls: A third group focused on education as the driving issue. They proposed a peer-led approach where students teach and inspire their peers, integrating visuals like infographics and flowcharts to illustrate the process. They also suggested a student podcast to share their experiences and insights.
• Educating Senior School Students: Another idea was to organise a large-scale construction-focused event at the ICC Sydney, modelled after the ‘Stand Tall’ experience. This event would include speakers from various roles within the construction industry, activities, games, and competitions to engage students and provide a comprehensive view of career opportunities.
• Effective Education for NSW Girls Aged 11-17: The final group proposed a construction-specific day with hands-on workshops, virtual reality site tours, and building competitions. They emphasised the importance of visual aids, feedback mechanisms, and parent involvement to ensure the event’s success and impact.

Results & Findings

The program began with 70.6% of respondents holding a negative perception of the construction industry. However, after the five-week initiative, this shifted to a 100% positive perception. Additionally, 58.9% of participants expressed an increased interest in pursuing a career in construction. The program revealed the invisible career pathways in construction, opening young women’s eyes to the endless and rewarding opportunities in the industry.

Acknowledgments

A special thank you to the amazing Taylor site team at Roseville College, who are in the final stages of completing the Sport & Wellbeing Centre. Their support in providing site tours and participating in interviews was invaluable. We also extend our gratitude to Roseville College’s Head of Careers, Terrie Franklin and High Potential Learning Leader, Alison Tedesco for their collaboration in creating such a successful program. Additionally, we would like to acknowledge Taylor’s Executive Team for their support of this initiative. We look forward to continuing this partnership in the future.