A construction industry awards ceremony has sparked controversy over sexism after female performers appeared wearing skimpy clothing, leading to widespread criticism and calls for change within the sector.
On The Tools, an online community for builders, faced backlash when photos emerged from a recent awards ceremony showing women wearing tight personal protective equipment (PPE)-style outfits performing on stilts.
Faye Allen, a diversity campaigner and former director at construction firm Arcadis, said she was approached by “terrified” attendees at the event, including a woman who “literally stepped in her crotch area”. “There are a lot of issues with PPE,” Allen expressed frustration. “We’ve been fighting so hard for PPE that fits women and other diverse groups. To have people wear high-visibility colors and wear clothing like this is frustrating.”
She added: “I’ve been in this industry for 30 years, and I stopped working for on-site contractors because I was fed up with the way I was treated, and women are still treated this way today. It has to change.”
Harriet Wylie Cohen, another diversity advocate, shared her dismay in a LinkedIn post, saying she was “appalled by the regressive and sexist messages” of the event. “The women’s promo would have been signed at the highest level. Anyone who wanted to ask the question either didn’t feel safe speaking up, or their concerns weren’t heard. “All participants decided it was acceptable to sexualize and devalue women,” she wrote. “In this industry, the portrayal is that women are there for their libido, not their minds or talents.”
Wally-Cohen highlighted the industry’s challenges, noting that “women have much shorter careers than men in construction, according to data from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. It is not surprising that women leave if they are unsafe at work and routinely have sex. What happened in… The awards ceremony certainly reinforces all of this.
Her post received reactions from over a thousand people and hundreds of comments, reflecting significant concern within the industry.
A banner used at the event for photo opportunities has also been circulating on social media, showing a photo of the loading bar with a 69% progress rate with the caption: “Getting drunk, please wait…”
“The industry will never be inclusive if these messages continue. Women don’t want tacky (events) or for people to get drunk over them; we just want respect and to be able to do our work,” Allen noted.
According to the On The Tools website, the organization is “the largest and most engaged online building community for tradespeople in the UK.” Sponsors of the awards ceremony included Jewry, CT1, Dulux Trade, Howdens, Renault Trucks, SIG Roofing, Toolstation and Wienerberger.
Lee Wilcox, CEO of On The Tools, issued a public apology on LinkedIn, noting that the company used an event contractor to plan the event and did not check the clothing. “We asked about the construction but didn’t check the clothing. But regardless of the ins and outs of it and how it happened, this was a mess, and we’re sorry,” he wrote.
Wilcox continued: “We’re always about empowering women, which is why I personally feel truly sorry for anyone we’ve offended. Those who know me know that’s not what I mean, and as a company leader, our culture and beliefs are a direct reflection of me. That’s why this is on me.” “
He has personally reached out to Allen and Willie Cohen to apologize.
Commenting on the incident, Allen said: “I try to look on the bright side – and I hope people wake up and realize how bad the situation is for women right now.”
Research conducted by Allen for her upcoming book, *Constructing Women: How Everyone Can Win*, revealed that one in four women in the industry will experience sexual assault at work in 2023, the equivalent of around 74,000 women in British construction.
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