Innovative Thinker | How mentoring can help the construction industry

Attracting talent has been an issue for the construction industry for years. An indicator of this is that many graduates with relevant degrees pursue careers outside the sector. 

Project management firm PL Projects consultant trainer Josie Rothera believes that offering mentoring to undergraduates is an effective way of making a built environment careers more attractive. Her view is shared by Sharon Slinger, a director of built environment inclusion specialist Constructing Rainbows, contractor NG Bailey senior mechanical design engineer Kayley Lockhead and Rubilee Properties partner Joanna Robinson. 

In 2016, they established Steer – a community interest company currently funded by architects Whittam Cox, Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers Yorkshire & Humber and Built Environment Networking. 

It offers one to one mentoring to final year built  environment degree students at Leeds Beckett and Nottingham Trent universities. The mentees meet the mentors several times during the academic year. They also visit project sites and attend networking events. 

Being able to engage with a potential new employee for an academic year, allows you to bring them in to showcase what you do

“If there are any thoughts in their heads like ‘I don’t know if this is for me’ or ‘I don’t know what to do’, this is where we can really get involved and give them that connection with somebody in the industry,” says Rothera, who is a Steer director. She explains that through mentoring, students can gain a better understanding of the opportunities in the sector. It also helps them learn about the core set of transferable skills. 

Mentoring can also benefit the built environment sector by promoting diversity and inclusion, Rothera says. For this reason, all mentors involved in the programme are from under-represented groups. “That’s really an opportunity to allow them to share their experience and be a visible role model,” she explains. 

The importance of using role models from these groups to encourage workforce diversity has also been identified by geotechnical consultant Geofirma director Ebenezer Adenmosun. He suggested the creation of a mentoring programme focused on civil engineering and geology students from diverse backgrounds to Federation of Piling Specialists (FPS) chair Steve Hadley. 

The FPS is part of ground engineering sector umbrella body Ground Forum. Steer supported the development of the forum’s undergraduate mentoring programme through mentor training and the running of networking events. 

During its first year – academic year 2020-2021 – the initiative offered mentoring to 38 university students, 72% of which were from ethnic minorities and 47% of which were female. 

Mentors’ employers gain from such schemes says Rothera. “While the mentors are giving their time voluntarily, they’re still attached to a company,” explains Rothera. “You [a mentor] being able to engage with a potential new employee for an academic year, allows you to bring them in to showcase what you do.”

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