Keon Simms

I’m from a single parent background (my mum is unable to work and the family, which includes my two younger siblings, are dependent on me) and so the luxury of university was a far-fetched ideology. But I managed to overcome many challenges to obtain a degree in Operations and Finance. I landed my first official job in tourism operations management 
and then went into utilities management for the NHS and did additional studies in project management and finance. 

I found out about the possibilities in construction through the GLA Workforce Integration Network and the Equal Group. I’m just happy that I got the chance to elevate and I’m lucky enough to work on major projects like HS2. I’m in a position where there is real potential for meaningful career growth and impact which
benefit not only me, but my family. Everything has been much greater than my expectations, in terms of scope, the impact of the company on society and what I am doing. There’s that feeling of pride, drive, and the desire to perform for the company and have that mutual growth.

I’m constantly researching, checking things out, scrolling through LinkedIn and associated job network sites trying find opportunities. I came across an Equal Group online event and it was literally, mind blown!

I was totally unaware of what Jacobs did. So, I researched the company. There were a lot of favourable points that caught my eye. Social responsibility, their hyper integrity, inclusivity and ethics, and values that resonated strongly with me. I checked sites like Glassdoor and LinkedIn and viewed feedback from current employees. The information gave some
insight into the culture of the company and I’m glad to say that I feel at ease. Jacobs basically lives inclusion,
which is one of its four core values.

I love my hair, but I’ve always tried to fit within the box of what’s expected, by keeping a very low cut. But, as long as it’s neat and professional, I just felt that Jacobs would accept me like this, and I could see others as well in media, online in photos, which gave me confidence. It’s just one of those small things that, I feel, is a product of their culture of inclusivity; allowing people to be comfortable with who they are and feeling part of Jacobs, as they are. 

At Jacobs, there’s a great investment in time and resources. The staff networks are all well supported. And there’s visibility in support. From the CEO right down to line management you’ll hear everybody talking about it. Jacobs has made clear that the interest is there for the advancement of minority groups. There is also inclusivity around gender equality, LTBQ+, disability, health and wellbeing and the intersectionality of these. The definition of what ED&I looks like is clearly defined within the Global Action Plan for Advancing Justice and Equality (GAPAJE). The induction allyship and bystander training opened my eyes a lot more to what it means to be inclusive and to embrace diversity on a wider scale.

The company runs events called ‘Courageous Conversations’, where staff come together and speak freely about their lived experiences and people actually listen and learn from these experiences. I have been amongst the women’s network where I’ve heard and learnt from women talking about experiences they’ve had, the comments that they’ve had to deal with so there is sensitisation to issues. 

Are the opportunities open to everyone? That’s a big ‘Yes’. I feel like I’ve literally jumped right out of the statistics from the Inclusive Employers Toolkit (IET). I’d never been able to get out of the low pay, low opportunity scenario, which has been depressing. My review of the company’s GAPAJE, which is basically championed by and mirrored the IET, has those measurable elements around progression and retention.

I’ve been really surprised at how quickly I was able to get into an area that I wanted to get into. I’m confident that even if I think of a career change, this company will be able to facilitate that as it has an ‘agile career’ 
concept, where you can choose, and be supported 
with, whatever direction you want to go in. There are career coaches, and regular contact with line managers to find out where you are, what your progress is, where you want to go and how you’re progressing towards that.

I’m just happy that I got the opportunity to elevate, that I’m in a position where I feel there is potential for progression and do something that’s meaningful. As long as I keep my focus and keep working hard, there is true opportunity for growth.