Holdfast Training Services Trial Blog

Just wanted to start a discussion on how the construction industry will change as a result of Covid-19. Arup have just made a big announcement about global flexible working, 3 days in the office a week and flexible hours. Allowing employees to work their 7.5 hours a day when it suits them but facilitating crucial collaborative work with teams coming into the office. There are many pros and cons to flexi working but I quite like the idea of this mix and it will be interesting to see how it plays out. Some other thoughts on flexi working:

• Time in the office is really important for developing junior engineers.
• Companies that do not offer flexi working may loose out as people seek roles in companies with a flexi policy.
• Line management of individuals is key to ensure that work patterns meet team and project outcomes.

Another area of interest is how construction firms can adapt to offer roles to people with disabilities. I have conducted a site visit from the design office with a person who uses a walking cane. He drove to the visit and the whole site was accessible due to AliMak lifts between levels (it was a tunnel site) and a few stairs he could manage here and there, see image below. This is particularly pertinent for design offices where people are employed for their brains! He is an Associate Principal with 20 years experience and a technical leader in retaining structures. Arup have been named in the Valuable 500 a global movement putting disability on the business leadership agenda. A campaign to get 500 national and multinational, private sector corporations to be the tipping-point for change and help unlock the social and economic value of people living with disabilities across the world. Because the potential of 1.3 billion should not be ignored.

Arup makes flexible working permanent for UK staff | Construction Enquirer News

Disability Is Your Business | The Valuable 500