Hello, and welcome to our latest newsletter! It’s been a very busy month here at BUD, and we can’t wait to tell you all about it!
We're Hiring!
We’re looking for new team members! Our family is forever growing, and we would love to invite you to join our vibrant and diverse team!
We’re currently looking for a(n):
You can click the above links to find out more and apply, or alternatively you can email hello@budleaders.org with a CV and cover letter.
Empowering Women in Construction
We’ve recently released the latest three episodes of the Empowering Women in Construction podcast. We’re so grateful that our amazing guests were open with us, and for the key takeaways gained.
In Episode 4, we spoke to Paulette Watson MBA, Founder and managing director of Academy Achievers. Through her work, Paulette has spent years helping young people from underprivileged communities access Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects.
In Episode 5, we spoke to Civil Engineer and Author Paula McMahon, currently working as a Regional Supervising Officer at Sir Robert McAlpine. Paula is an advocate for promoting diversity within the construction industry.
Lastly, in Episode 6, we spoke to Engineer and Sustainability Manager Megan Haslam at Sir Robert McAlpine. Megan talked about her journey in the industry and the difference that having women on your team at work can make.
Mental Health Awareness Week
Mental Health Awareness Week was May 9th to 15th. This gave us a great opportunity to reflect and learn more about what we can do to support each other in the workplace.
Research conducted by charity MIND found:
1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in England
1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem (like anxiety and depression) in any given week in England
Halima Hamid is a member of the BUD Leaders Online Community (aka BLOC), and the Founder of the Health is Wealth Project, an initiative raising awareness for women’s health issues. We spoke to her about her experiences and what she has done personally to help others:
“I recently refreshed my peer leader/supporter training with Mind, which I can use to facilitate spaces to share lived experiences. This is something that I am familiar with, in terms of listening attentively during oral communications and conversations is crucial towards inclusion. I work closely with Muslim women’s support groups that encourage individual and social change…
“Learning about how many Muslim women committing suicides within the same ward/area and timelines has been such an eye opener for the work that needs to be done.
“I am also in the process of becoming a cycling ride leader to enable women to become more active, and in turn more mentally calm and sound.”
Speaking about how leadership can help tackle mental health issues, Halima said:
“Leadership implies being the ‘ideal leader’, but in fact consists of working in partnerships… especially within workplaces and workforces, it is essential to create real connections that are free from harm.”
To learn more or join BLOC, click here!
Facilitators In Training (FIT) Session
We are advocates for continuous learning, and that is exactly what we’ve been doing at BUD! We strive to deliver the highest quality facilitation and we’re constantly adapting and developing our practices. We recently ran a FIT programme, where BUD Team Members Lere, Marilena, and Tolu ran a session about our signature ROC course.
We covered activities developed around the ‘Release’, ‘Ownership’ and ‘Collective intelligence’ (ROC) model:
We learned how releasing control, taking ownership of your values and commitments, and utilising your team’s strengths all contribute to becoming a more inclusive and successful leader, and how mastering these three traits can ultimately lead to growth, both personally and in business.
As with anything BUD, we also had a lot of fun; doing quizzes, games, and activities!
From left to right: Marilena, Georgina, Lere, Jay, Lee, Natalie, Moyin, Jen
At the end of the session, we discussed how we felt about our own leadership, using words like empowered, confident, and motivated to describe a few of the feelings:
You can complete our CPD accredited ROC course at your own pace online. For a short period of time, new members can access the course for a reduced rate of £147.
Our expert facilitators will guide you through six modules, teaching you how to:
- Learn how to be more inclusive
Build a culture that brings both belonging and productivity
Take more care of your own health and wellbeing
Access support to adapt further to new ways of working
You can access this offer and learn more here.