Construction awards face sexism backlash over performers in tight-fitting PPE outfits

A construction industry awards event has sparked a sexism row after featuring female performers in skin-tight, builder-themed outfits, leading to widespread criticism and calls for change within the sector.

On The Tools, an online community for builders, faced backlash when photos emerged from its recent awards ceremony showing women in tight-fitting costumes modeled on personal protective equipment (PPE) and performing on stilts.

Faye Allen, a diversity campaigner and former director at construction company Arcadis, said she was contacted by “horrified” attendees of the event, including one woman who “literally walked into a crotch.” Allen expressed her frustration: “There’s a lot of issues over PPE. We’ve been fighting really hard for PPE that fits women and other diverse groups. To have people put on hi-vis colours and dress like that is frustrating.”

She added, “I’ve been in the industry for 30 years—I stopped working for contractors on site because I got sick of the way I was treated, and women are still being treated that way today. It has to change.”

Harriet Waley-Cohen, another diversity advocate, shared her dismay in a LinkedIn post, stating she was “appalled by the regressive, sexist messaging” of the event. “The promo women would have been signed off at the highest level. Anyone who wanted to question it either didn’t feel safe to speak, or their concerns weren’t listened to. Everyone involved decided that it’s OK to sexualise and devalue women in the industry, and portray that women are there for their sexual desirability, not their brains or talents,” she wrote.

Waley-Cohen highlighted industry challenges, noting that “women have far shorter careers than men in construction, according to RICS data. It’s not surprising women are leaving if they are unsafe at work and routinely sexualised. What happened at the awards absolutely reinforces all of this.”

Her post garnered reactions from over a thousand people and hundreds of comments, reflecting significant concern within the industry.

A sign used at the event for photo opportunities also circulated on social media, displaying an image of a loading bar at 69% progress with the caption: “Getting drunk, please wait…”

Allen remarked, “The industry will never be inclusive if this messaging carries on. Women don’t want tacky [events] or people getting drunk for the sake of it; we just want respect and to be able to do our jobs.”

According to On The Tools’ website, the organisation is “the largest and most engaged online construction community for UK tradespeople.” Sponsors for the awards ceremony included Jewson, CT1, Dulux Trade, Howdens, Renault Trucks, SIG Roofing, Toolstation, and Wienerberger.

Lee Wilcox, the chief executive of On The Tools, issued a public apology on LinkedIn, stating that the company had used an events contractor to plan the event and had not checked the outfits. “We asked for a construction theme but didn’t check the outfits. But no matter the ins and outs of it and how it happened, this was a mess-up, and we’re sorry,” he wrote.

Wilcox continued, “We always aim to empower women, which is why I’m personally really, really sorry to anyone we’ve offended. Those that know me know this isn’t what I’m about, and as the leader of the business, our culture and beliefs are a reflection of me directly. Which is why this is on me.”

He has personally reached out to both Allen and Waley-Cohen to apologise.

Reflecting on the incident, Allen said, “I’m trying to look on the bright side—hopefully people will wake up and realise how bad the situation is for women now.”

Research conducted by Allen for her upcoming book, *Building Women: How Everyone in Construction Can Win*, revealed that one in four women in the industry were sexually assaulted at work in 2023, equating to approximately 74,000 women in British construction.

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Construction awards face sexism backlash over performers in tight-fitting PPE outfits