Hilary Robson joins construction and management consultancy, Currie and Brown as divisional director, leaving her position as associate at Bruce Shaw Partnerships. Hilary will oversee the costing for the redevelopment of BBC’s Broadcasting House.

Stewart Milne Homes has appointed Jacquie Forbes as new development director following her successful 17-year progression to development manager for West Scotland. John Low, managing director says that Jacquie will be central to strengthening the future of the company.

Linden Homes is putting customers at the heart of its business with the appointment of Sarah Eales in the new role of group customer experience director. Sarah leaves a 16-year career at Interbrew where she was responsible for the national sales and customer service teams.

Jane Spellacy has been appointed as Jackson Lloyd’s women’s ambassador as part of a new initiative to attract women into the construction industry. Jane joined the company 12 years ago as a quantity surveyor and progressed to commercial director. She is hoping her new role will encourage women into what has traditionally been a male-dominated industry.

THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF BUILDING (CIOB) this month published Inclusivity: The Changing Role of Women in the Construction Workforce, which aims to raise the debate about the function of women in the industry, and assesses the real barriers faced by women today.
Almost 200,000 women work in the construction industry, accounting for just 10% of the workforce. The Equal  Opportunities Commission highlighted construction as an industrial sector which was viewed as a no-go area for women.
The report, written by Sonia Gurjao from the University of Reading, highlights how recruiting women can fill the skills shortage.
Gurjao said: “The recruitment of women is no longer simply a nice thing to do; it has become a necessity.” Michael Brown, CIOB deputy chief executive said: “Attracting and retaining more women in the construction sector is a key priority for the UK. In countries such as ours where skill and labour shortages exist increasing the number of women in the
workforce would go some way to solving the problem.”
He added: “Many industries, including the construction industry, harbour discrimination through unequal pay schemes.
The CIOB recognises the positive contribution of women within the industry and calls for women and men to be treated as equals.”