UGL’s METRONET Railcar Manufacturing Facility at Bellevue in Western Australia is setting a new standard for diversity and inclusivity.
With strong female representation across various roles, including traditionally male dominated positions, the project team is challenging stereotypes and reshaping the narrative of what a construction site looks like.
The project is being delivered on behalf of the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia by EastRail, a joint venture between UGL and ADCO.
UGL’s subcontractor Halo Civil Engineering, which has been engaged for early bulk earthworks for the project, employs about 41% female operators on the site. This is in addition to women accounting for 27% of UGL employees in other areas of the project such as commercial, project planning, project administration and document control.
Eve Burgess, UGL’s Project Controls Manager at Bellevue said: “Having a strong female presence on our project site is emblematic of our commitment to diversity and inclusivity. Witnessing operators who are not only proficient but also exude professionalism and confidence contributes significantly to our positive team culture and fosters a broader sense of inclusivity throughout the project."
EastRail’s Site Supervisor Russell Sharpe said: “This team is very professional in all their actions, including the most thorough pre-starts on a site plant I’ve seen in over 20 years in the civil construction industry. They embody teamwork and positivity in every action. The team has made a significant positive impact on safety, communication, and reporting across the project.”
Michelle McLaughlin from UGL’s subcontractor Halo said: “We have found more opportunities and support on site which means we’re more empowered in our work and learning. The team's patience and willingness to listen as we tackle new tasks has been invaluable. Being taken seriously for our ability to operate various machinery in diverse situations has been truly rewarding."
UGL empowers our women through industry exposure and development opportunities in a secure, inclusive environment. We recognise that attracting, developing, and retaining a broad mix of people enriches us as a company, and is essential to our continued creativity, competitiveness, and sustainable business growth. Since our launch of Women@UGL, we are creating inclusive working environments that support the ongoing development of female talent within our business.
UGL’s recently launched Gender Equality Action Plan has three-year targets for women in UGL, women in management positions and women in leadership roles. The key focal points of this plan are:
- leadership, strategy and accountability
- developing a gender balanced workforce
- gender pay equity
- flexible and inclusive workplaces.
At UGL we are building a workforce for the future which aims for improved representation at all levels throughout the organisation.
