A construction industry awards ceremony has sparked a row over sexism after female performers were featured in skin-tight builder-themed outfits, sparking widespread criticism and calls for change within the industry.
On The Tools, an online community for builders, faced backlash when photos emerged from its recent awards ceremony showing women in skin-tight costumes modeled on personal protective equipment (PPE) and performing on stilts.
Faye Allen, a diversity campaigner and former director of construction company Arcadis, said she was contacted by “shocked” attendees at the event, including one woman who “literally walked into a crotch”. Allen expressed her frustration: “There are a lot of problems with personal protective equipment. We have fought very hard for personal protective equipment that is suitable for women and other diverse groups. It’s frustrating to have people wear bright colors and dress like that.”
She added: “I have been in the industry for 30 years. I stopped working for on-site contractors because I got tired of the way I was treated, and women are still treated that way today. It has to change.”
Harriet Waley-Cohen, another diversity advocate, shared her dismay in a LinkedIn post, stating that she was “shocked by the regressive, sexist messaging” from the event. “The promo women would have been signed off at the highest level. Anyone who wanted to question this either didn’t feel safe to speak up, or their concerns weren’t listened to. “Everyone involved decided that it is okay to sexualize and devalue women in the industry, and to portray that women are there because of their sexual desirability, not their brains or talents,” she wrote.
Waley-Cohen highlighted the challenges in the sector, noting that “according to RICS data, women have much shorter careers than men in the construction industry. It’s no surprise that women leave when they are unsafe at work and routinely sexualized. What happened at the ceremony absolutely reinforces all of this.”
Her post attracted responses from more than a thousand people and hundreds of comments, reflecting deep concern within the industry.
A sign used for photo opportunities during the event also circulated on social media, showing an image of a loading bar showing 69% progress with the caption: “Getting drunk, please wait…”
Allen noted: “The industry will never be inclusive if this message continues. Women don’t want to be clingy [events] or people who get drunk for the sake of it; we just want respect and to be able to do our job.”
According to On The Tools’ website, the organization is “the largest and most engaged online construction community for UK tradespeople.” Sponsors for the awards ceremony included Jewson, CT1, Dulux Trade, Howdens, Renault Trucks, SIG Roofing, Toolstation and Wienerberger.
Lee Wilcox, the CEO of On The Tools, issued a public apology on LinkedIn, stating that the company had used an events contractor to plan the event and had not vetted the outfits. “We asked for a construction theme but didn’t check the outfits. But no matter how it happened or how it happened, this was a mess, and we are sorry,” he wrote.
Wilcox continued: “We always strive to empower women, and for that, I am personally deeply sorry to anyone we have offended. Those who know me know that this is not my goal, and as the leader of the company, our culture and beliefs are a direct reflection of me. That’s why this is my job.”
He has personally contacted both Allen and Waley-Cohen to apologize.
Reflecting on the incident, Allen said: “I’m trying to look on the positive side – hopefully people will wake up and realize how bad the situation is for women now.”
Research carried out by Allen for her forthcoming book, *Building Women: How Everyone in Construction Can Win*, revealed that one in four women in the industry would be sexually assaulted at work in 2023, equating to around 74,000 women in the UK construction industry .