Construct Ability: how can we make construction accessible to all?

As a wheelchair user working in the water sector, I aim to push boundaries and challenge pre-conceptions of what disabled people can do in construction.

To make this change within the industry, I established Construct Ability, an initiative that aims to make construction accessible to all through education, innovation, and collaboration.

From help applying to government schemes to working with suppliers to design adaptive personal protective equipment (PPE), Construct Ability aims to achieve three goals:

1. Increase the number of disabled people within the construction industry.
2. Educate employers and employees on the support available, including their legal rights and requirements.
3. Innovate change and adaptions needed for individuals to work safely.

Why we need Construct Ability

There’s an unprecedented level of investment coming into sectors such as water, housing, and energy.

The construction industry relies on building and maintaining a workforce that’s able to deliver the scale of investment needed.

This means hiring diverse employees capable of adapting, upskilling, and delivering.

There are approximately 3.68 million working-aged people with disabilities in the UK.

However, the employment rate of disabled people is 53%, compared to 82% of non-disabled people.

With the vast variety of roles and professions within construction (for example IT, surveying, engineering, HR), it's likely there's a position that could meet their accessibility requirements.

Why accessibility matters

Anyone can become disabled, at any time. I found this out at 18, six months after giving birth to my daughter.

Improving accessibility is ensuring that everyone has the right to do their job safely.

This also creates opportunities, such as:

• Ageing employees can work for longer, keeping their skills and knowledge within the industry.
• Diverse perspectives and experiences are considered, better reflecting the range of users/stakeholders that could be affected by the construction.
• Less time lost from injuries, as individuals can adapt their roles or transfer into another suitable position.
• Better company morale and retention rates, as organisations start investing in their employees.

Fostering an honest network

Construct Ability will amplify the experiences of disabled employees and their employers.

It will promote good (e.g. the disabled parking space onsite seen below) practices and highlight how to improve bad ones, to ensure the industry is collectively learning and adapting together.

This is about fostering an honest network.

One where anyone feels able to ask for help knowing that support will follow, and the challenges will be collaboratively overcome.

Construct Ability’s focus areas

The main areas that Construct Ability will focus on and develop:

• Promoting adaptive PPE
• Support applying to the UK’s Access to Work scheme (government funded grants for equipment, communication support or mental health services)
• Site visit accessibility
• The importance of inclusive design
• Sharing experiences collectively

The role of apprenticeships

Construct Ability will also highlight apprenticeships, as they offer added support and opportunities to people with disabilities wanting to enter the construction sector.

I started working at South West Water on a Level 4 project management apprenticeship.

I will be starting my degree apprenticeship in September 2024 at Exeter University.

With caring responsibilities, medical appointments, and surgery, I wouldn’t be able to reach higher education without an apprenticeship.

Ensuring everyone can make progress

It’s one thing ensuring that disabled employees can simply do their job, but it’s another to ensure they have opportunities to progress within that role.

Organisations need to be achieving above the minimum standard.

Construct Ability will be working across sectors with a range of organisations, from recruiters and contractors to education providers.

And, from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to international companies.

We will also work with a range of individuals, from apprentices to CEOs, to hear experiences, identifying the areas for improvement and working to create solutions.

It’s an ambitious initiative that will require support, as construction becomes accessible to all.

If you would like to get involved, as an individual or organisation, please message Construct Ability on LinkedIn or email [email protected].