London Build Expo… Chicks with Bricks!

This year’s London Build Expo was a really enjoyable experience for the Sphere8 team – we were shortlisted for two awards at the London Construction Awards and had an amazing evening with over 200 industry specialists; we then headed along to Day Two of the London Build Expo and made a huge number of great new contacts; but perhaps most exciting was our introduction to Chicks with Bricks at London Build’s “Women in Construction” Morning Tea – a really inspirational morning…

A worthwhile cause

Chicks with Bricks was set up 11 years ago and works as a platform and network to connect women in the construction industry. These include all sectors from architects and engineers to policymakers, manufacturers and surveyors. With exactly 50% of the Sphere8 team being women, and spread across every company department, this is a cause very close to our hearts and one we are passionate about supporting.  

Attracting high-profile women

Chicks with Bricks is a not-for-profit network, so any profits go towards enabling young, disadvantaged women get into the construction industry – and they are supported in this by The Prince’s Trust. They host four events throughout the year, bringing together up to 150 women and men each time for lively debates and interesting discussion panels. Speakers are often key industry figures – attracting women from across various sectors. Past speakers have included Annie Hampson (CPO for City of London Corporation); Claire Bennie (Development Director for Peabody); Sarah Drinkwater (Head of Campus for Google London); and The Rt. Hon. Nicky Morgan (MP for Loughborough, Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities).

© Sphere8, 2022

Steps towards change

At the London Build Expo’s VIP meeting we enjoyed a speech by Holly Porter, who set up Chicks with Bricks when she was just 24. An inspiring woman and one who gave us a lot to think about. Here at Sphere8 we are pleased to represent a progressive part of the construction industry – aiming to change the current statistic that women represent just 4% of skilled professionals in the wider construction industry! With shocking standards like that it’s no wonder there is work to be done – but we are greatly inspired by what companies like Chicks with Bricks are doing to rectify this. And we’d like to thank the London Build Expo for its focus on this.

A really rewarding morning within a very exciting couple of days!

© Sphere8, 2022

© Sphere8, 2022