AWARD-WINNING GLOBAL DIVERSITY & INCLUSION SPECIALIST
We want to build an industry that has a positive impact on the whole of society, by helping everyone achieve their full potential and creating stronger built environment organisations with equity, diversity and inclusion at their core.
Constructing Rainbows helps companies globally within the built environment sector (including property, construction, renewables and facilities management) unlock the power and potential of diverse talent by creating inclusive cultures.
To read previous issues of the Constructing Rainbows newsletter click here
SERVICES
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
The business benefits of having a diverse and inclusive company are well documented. I will help your business become a more inclusive workplace which will attract new talent, retain existing employees and generate innovation in your company.
​
Some of the services I can provide for your organisation are:
​
-
Diversity & inclusion diagnostics
-
Compile the business case for diversity and inclusion
-
Produce or review and support the implementation of bespoke Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion strategies, policies and procedures
-
Inclusive recruitment strategies
-
Talent retention strategies
-
Data collection and analysis
-
Connect with relevant industry organisations and networks
-
Communicate with key stakeholders
-
Establish internal affinity networks
-
Employee engagement – focus groups, diversity and inclusion talks
-
Exit interviews
-
Complete external documentation including tender submissions and accreditations
-
Supply chain diversity
-
Impact measurement
-
Ad hoc advice and guidance on a whole range of diversity and inclusion best practice
Being an inclusive company WILL provide you with a proven competitive advantage.
Freasdail - Argyll & Bute
RES Group
ABOUT
Having worked in the construction and facilities management industries for over 20 years as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor for main contractors, I have seen and experienced the many positives that our built environment careers bring. I have also always noticed the lack of diversity within the industry, and as more and more research is produced demonstrating the business benefits of diverse organisations, it became obvious that we all need to be doing better.
​
I am passionate about, and have been a driving force in, creating industries that provide inclusive environments for all. So in 2017, I felt the time was right to set up on my own, to share my knowledge and experience more widely to help others improve their businesses, the wider industry and ultimately the bottom line.
​
My expertise from being a Chartered Quantity Surveyor; financial and legal, as well as wider business strategies including change management, project management, efficiency identification and risk reduction, aligned with my knowledge of diversity and inclusion provide the perfect skillset for creating the inclusive culture needed within everyday business operations of built environment organisations.
​
I have also spent a lot of time helping the industry, and individuals, in encouraging people to join what are really exciting industries to work in. I have done this through leading projects at my place of employment, but also through a social enterprise I have co-founded, STEER Support & Mentoring CIC.
​
I’m proud to say that throughout my career I have won, and been shortlisted for, a number of awards for my work within construction, facilities management and diversity and inclusion, including those detailed below.
​
I look forward to working with you.
​
Sharon Slinger FRICS CIWFM
​
​
My career story has been written in accessible text by Chloe Gillie for SEN primary school children to learn more about "Design Technology Heroes" providing diverse role models in STEM careers. Click on the button below to read it.
Proud sponsor of Leeds City Lasses - women's returner team
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
LYNDA THWAITE, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, SIR ROBERT MCALPINE
Sharon is an extremely trusted and valuable advisor to me and to the Sir Robert McAlpine business. Her knowledge across the entire diversity and inclusion landscape has helped to shape our plans and more importantly has had a positive lasting impact. Without Sharon’s advice and support I fear our progress towards true inclusion would have been well intentioned but without focus or pace. As well as really knowing her stuff and delivering to brief, Sharon is easy to work with and often goes above and beyond by thinking of our business aims and alerting me to items she knows will help me achieve those goals
MATT SUMMERHILL, MANAGING PARTNER YORKSHIRE REGION, RIDER LEVETT BUCKNALL
I am incredibly grateful for Sharon's support and counsel. She has made me a much more rounded leader. I know I still have lots to learn, but I am a better manager, but more importantly a better person, since we started working together.
Thank you
AMANDA WHITE, GLOBAL HEAD OF DIVERSITY & INCLUSION, RES
We have partnered with Sharon since January 2020 to support and guide our global Affinity Networks and Inclusion & Diversity strategy. Her expertise, collaboration and flexibility (to work out of hours to meet our different time zones) has resulted in tangible outcomes for our company in a short space of time. She is passionate and committed to everything I&D, and truly partners with our organisation and our people. I&D can be a challenging journey and Sharon provides inspiration to overcome any challenge by sharing new insights, challenging our ideas, listening, understanding and allowing us a safe space to learn. I would highly recommend Sharon as a trusted I&D expert.
NEWS
May 2023
At UKREiiF, in partnership with my client the Assocation for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), we launched the ACE People First Charter - supporting companies to put people at the heart of their businesses.
​
April 2023
As an Advisory Board Member for UKREiiF, I judged a number of the awards categories, those shortlisted can be found here
​
As part of LGBT+ in FM, I attended The Workplace Event, and spoke as part of a panel discussion about taking action on LGBT+ inclusion.
​
March 2023
For Women's History Month I chaired an RICS Yorkshire & Humber roundtable discussion focused on making improvements in the surveying profession, particularly in our region.
​
February 2023
I contributed to an article in Facilitate magazine about social value in the faciltiies management supply chain. Read it here
​
January 2023
The Association of Consultancy & Engineering awards were held in London this month, I was one of the judges of the Inclusive Employer Award.
​
December 2022
NAWIC Yorkshire interviewed me as part of their Breaking Barriers Q&A series.
​
November 2022
In this RICS WBEF podcast I am discussing accessibility and inclusion within the built environment.
​
IWFM's latest Facilitate magazine featured members of their EDI working group discussing the importance of EDI in the facilities management sector,
​
October 2022
The latest roundtable for the Association for Consultancy and Engineering Building Inclusivity campaign focused on ethnic minorities. The roundup can be found here
​
September 2022
I joined other industry experts for the Association for Consultancy and Engineering Building Inclusivity Neurodivergent roundtable discussion, read a write up here.
​
For Bivisibility Day, I joined Victoria from RES to bust some myths about bisexuality.
​
August 2022
Faithful + Gould held a roundtable discussion on "Diversifying the Workforce" which was printed in this month's Building magazine.
​
July 2022
For World Youth Skills Day I chaired a discussion with Alison from Design Engineer Construct and Kathryn from Built Environment Skills in Schools for the Fortel Lunch & Learn webinar series.
​
I joined other industry experts for the Association for Consultancy and Engineering Building Inclusivity LGBT+ roundtable discussion discussing "Beyond Pride"
​
June 2022
I have had a month of judging industry EDI awards, firstly the Constructing Excellence Yorkshire & Humber Awards and then the Insititute of Workplace and Facilities Management awards. When entering these type of awards, always remember to focus on the impact your initiatives have had.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
PRO BONO WORK
I contribute at least 25% of my time to pro bono advising aimed at transforming inclusion within our industry.
​
2017 - 2023 advisory roles include:
-
Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management - Equity Diversity and Inclusion Focus Group
-
Construction Industry Council - Diversity & Inclusion Panel and Yorkshire & Humber Board
-
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors - Yorkshire & Humber Board
-
Awards Judge - The Inspire Awards, CIBSE Yorkshire & Humber, Constructing Excellence Yorkshire & Humber, RIBA Nottingham & Derby Women in Architecture Student Awards, UKREiiF Awards, IWFM Impact Awards, Consultancy & Engineering Awards
Rainbow over the Shard, London.
Photo credit: Jeremy Harmsworth - Sir Robert McAlpine
CONTACT
Keep updated
To keep updated with diversity and inclusion news in our industry and others, please complete the form below. Your details will be kept and used purely for the reasons detailed above.
Location
Leeds, Yorkshire, UK - working globally.
​
Sharon@constructingrainbows.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)7590 078681
​
Company registration no. 11048139
Background photo: Rainbow construction in Manchester
Photo credit: Loretta Lipworth - Wilmott Dixon