COP26 Careers Media Projects Supply chain Contact Contact Menu Expertise Menu About Skanska c Home About Skanska Media Features Vive la différence Media Press releases Features New Infrastructure Coalition report calls for urgent action on carbon measurement to achieve net-zero by 2050 Improved ways of working The Future of Construction Digital twin Mind the gap No small change A helping hand The ethical front line Making the grade Carbon cutback When a plan comes together… Green aspirations Fur coat madam? Unique journey Vive la différence Life in a future city Media contacts Podcasts Vive la différence Skanska’s Pia Höök highlights why diversity and inclusion are at the top of the agenda. Skanska is committed to being a global leader in diversity and inclusion. "Diversity and inclusion are vitally important to Skanska. We're a people company. It's about making sure that we are an attractive employer and business partner," says Pia Höök, Skanska's Global Diversity Manager, based in Stockholm in Sweden. "We want the people who work for us to come from the biggest talent pool possible. An inclusive workplace also promotes creativity and innovation." The global perspective "Being a multi-national company is a great strength when it comes to improving diversity and inclusion," says Höök. "Diversity is about differences between people. Some of these differences are related to areas of historic inequalities in society such as gender, ethnicity and sexual orientation. Some are purely to do with the individual, related to everything that makes us unique. "Inclusion is about how all of us are expected to treat people different to ourselves. In an inclusive culture we treat each other with respect, openness, and care. It is a learning culture that allows everyone to fully contribute." Höök adds there are similarities in the construction industry in different countries: "Wherever you go, it tends to have been dominated by white men: it's a general trend. While there are always local variations to the challenges we face – for example, Poland has a very homogeneous society – there are lots of common themes. "One of the challenges is that the industry is very decentralised. Change is never easy, but it's much easier to do if you have a centralised organisation. There is a lot that the sector could learn from other industries and companies such as IBM, IKEA, Sodexo and EY (Ernst and Young). "We are seeing that more and more people want to work in a diverse environment, with people who are different from themselves. For instance, in some traditionally male-dominated workplaces, we are seeing that younger men want to work in mixed environments, with men and women." “Wherever you go, the sector tends to have been dominated by white men: it's a general trend.” Skanska has set out a global diversity and inclusion vision. Each of its operations, including Skanska UK, has carried out a detailed analysis of the local and regional challenges and produced an action plan to improve diversity and inclusion. Each business has appointed an advocate – someone at a senior strategic level – to push forward the agenda. "I've seen some great initiatives throughout the company. Skanska Sweden and Skanska Poland have done a lot of work around recruitment and how to appeal to a wider group of people. "In Poland, Skanska is the most popular employer among all women engineers. Skanska USA has successfully developed and launched 'inclusive leadership conversations' to increase managers' awareness and commitment. This format is now spreading to other parts of the firm, for instance Skanska Finland." Höök has praise for Skanska UK: "The President and CEO, Mike Putnam, and his senior team, very strongly support the diversity and inclusion agenda. You need that management commitment in order to be successful. It's about senior managers sending out a strong message that they walk the talk." "Over the last ten years, I think the construction industry has changed for the better," comments Höök. "But, we still have a long way to go. Change takes time: it's worth it at the end of the day." Features Share Last updated: 23/01/2017 About Skanska UK Skanska, one of the UK’s leading contractors, helps to construct, upgrade and maintain the country’s buildings and infrastructure. Skanska UK in brief Projects History Purpose and values 51 Moorgate Map data ©2021 Google View larger map Shortcuts Find information on our website. Careers Code of Conduct Organisation and governance Statement on modern slavery and human trafficking (PDF) Skanska pension fund Contact us About Skanska Group Skanska is one of the world's leading project development and construction groups. Our projects Our people Our markets Information for investors Latest share price 03/12/2021 17:30 CET SKA B: SEK 211.1 -1.1%g Skanska AB is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Stockholm and traded under the SKA B symbol. View the share graph on Skanska Group website Change country Change country: United Kingdom Change country Follow us on social media © 2021 Skanska Terms of use, Processing of personal data and Cookies - Sitemap cookie preferences Skanska UK Plc, Registered Office: Maple Cross House, Denham Way, Maple Cross, Herts. WD3 9SW. Registered in England - Registration Number: 784752 Your Consent for Cookies Cookies provide us with data to analyze our traffic and allow for a more personalized experience. Please click on “Allow cookies” below to enable or adjust your preferences by clicking on “Change settings”. You can alter these at any time. Change settings Allow cookies