- Inclusion for all talent
The Women’s Empowerment Principles : une signature internationale en faveur de la mixité
In December 2023, VINCI Construction Grands Projets signed up to the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), established by UN Women and the UN Global Compact, becoming the first building and civil engineering company in France to join this global movement.
The seven Women’s Empowerment Principles
The WEPs have built up a community encompassing more than 9,000 businesses and organisations all demonstrating a strong commitment to gender equality in general and equal opportunities in particular. Together, they form a network driving progress in gender equality and women’s empowerment at work and in the community, structured around seven Principles:
- Put in place a governance framework that promotes gender equality at the highest level of the company
- Treat all women and men fairly at work, respect and support human rights and combat discrimination
- Protect employee health, well-being and safety at work
- Promote education, training and career development for women
- Support women in the world of work, within the supply chain, marketing and enterprise development
- Promote equality through initiatives championed by employees and involve them in community efforts, and mobilise networks and associations
- Measure and report on progress made regarding gender equality
“Women in major projects”, a concrete solution since 2019
This initiative, unlike any other in our industry, is led by a steering committee made up of seven women and seven men representing the full spectrum of diversity across the company (staff from operations and support functions, based in France and expatriates, some young, others more mature, from various levels of management).
The steering committee puts forward ideas for concrete action to lastingly solidify gender diversity in the workplace, which are reviewed by the Executive Committee every two years. The steering committee is then tasked with implementing the initiatives selected.
Several of these initiatives have proven immensely successful, including posters, films (such as Did You Say Stereotypes?, which won the Jury’s Choice award at the Deauville International Responsible Film Festival), podcasts (such as the gender-neutral Epicène), gender equality benchmarks and events to raise awareness such as S’engager pour la mixité (47 seminars reaching over 700 employees so far).
“I believe gender diversity represents a genuine asset that will change the way VINCI Construction Grands Projets operates, bringing greater harmony, of course, but also making us more efficient and effective. That is why I wholeheartedly endorse the United Nations’ Women Empowerment Principles.”