Epicor is sponsoring the very first Builders' Merchant Award for Excellence supporting outstanding women in the industry, explains Nick Hull, BisTrack customer account manager, ‎at Epicor Software.

As a global company, Epicor supports opportunity and business growth. The Epicor BisTrack software solution is used by around 40% of the ‘trailblazer’ fastest growing merchants. We recently announced our sponsorship of a special Builders Merchant Award for Excellence, which we hope will encourage the professional growth of those women already in the industry, as well as the businesses with the foresight to employ them.

It’s important the issue is raised. The recent Considerate Constructors Scheme’s industry survey has revealed that more needs to be done to change perceptions and encourage more women into the construction industry.

The research, called ‘Spotlight on…women in construction’, pulls together the latest and greatest examples of best practice, case studies from women working across the construction industry, legal requirements, and links to useful organisations encouraging women to work in construction.

The survey findings revealed that:

  • 94% of respondents agreed that the industry would benefit from employing more women
  • 76% said there are no construction jobs that only men can do
  • 74% said there should not be quotas for hiring women into construction

It is clear from this survey that although some results are encouraging, there is still a huge amount to be done and that applies to the builders’ merchant industry too. The construction industry as a whole needs 35,000 new workers per year to meet its skills shortage, and not to appeal to 51% of the UK population would be to diminish the talent pool open to it significantly.

We wish all the nominees the very best of luck! Look out for winner of the award in late 2018 in Builders' Merchants News.