The traditional image of construction as a macho industry has left the housing sector with an image problem. Stories of long hours and being expected to move all around the country for work can make it seem incompatible with work/life balance or raising a family and have been credited with alienating women. However, things aren't as bleak as they seem.
As far back as 2008, women made up 36% of all senior management roles in the sector. Whilst this might not seem high, as Inside Housing pointed out, this beats law, medicine and architecture as a female-friendly profession. Despite this good news, recruiting women into the sector is still seen as a challenge and with the coalition intent on shaking up social housing, now more than ever, there is a need for top talent.
In this Q&A our panel will be discussing what the sector can do to make itself more attractive to female leaders and hopefully dispelling some myths about housing along the way. Post your questions for our panel here, they will be online at 1pm on Wednesday 11 August to answer them.
Janet Davies is chief executive of Women's Pioneer Housing, which was founded in 1920 to house women on modest incomes. Today the association provides 1000 rented homes for women headed households across west London, and support for older women living in sheltered housing.
Sus Chalkley FCIH is chief executive of Hastoe Housing Association. She has worked in social housing for 34 years and is a specialist in rural housing and environmental sustainability.
Helen Giles MBE is managing director of Broadway's Real People, a social enterprise HR and management training consultancy, and HR director of Broadway, a leading provider of services supporting homeless people from the streets to homes and jobs.
Lynn Hanford Day is the group human resources director for Sovereign Housing Group. Prior to joining Sovereign she held senior HR posts in the hi-tech sector, defence and financial services.
Michelle Gregg is the executive director of service delivery at Harvest Housing Group.
Glenda Taylor is the human resources manager for North Hertfordshire Homes.
Lara Oydele is the CEO of Odu-Dua Housing Association
