Diversity & Inclusion

Diversity & Inclusion forms part of Mercury's Responsible Business programme, and is a key factor behind our winning culture

We have put in place a Diversity & Inclusion Policy that is driven by our Executive Management Team. Diversity & Inclusion is woven into the fabric of the vision and values of Mercury, not only through our culture, but through the entire life cycle of the employee experience.

Our diversity and inclusion strategy is built to reflect these 3 pillars:

1. OUR WORKFORCE

It is vitally important for us to ensure that we hire, retain and develop a workforce that reflects the industries and communities we serve.

Values - We enable our people to reach their potential every day. Our unique Mercury culture - a dedication to keeping wellbeing & safety at the forefront of everything we do and being brave, dynamic and making it happen - is embedded in every member of our global team. We have a proud track record of retaining staff long-term and developing them from apprentice and graduate level all the way to becoming senior management.

Nationalities - With 40+ nationalities, we believe that our incredibly diverse workforce and our positive culture has helped to create an environment that encourages our staff to deliver top-class results.

Women in construction -We continue to work to change the perception that our industry is one that only men can succeed in. Gender equality is of fundamental significance to Mercury. This is why we are leading the way in making the construction industry more female friendly. Women account for just 8.5% of the construction workforce, but make up over 11% of Mercury's 2,000 direct employees. We're working to improve upon this number and to change the perception that only men can succeed in our industry by:

  • Regularly hosting talks, events and courses for aspiring women in construction, including visits to all-girls schools, where we highlight the endless possibilities available in the construction industry for women.
  • Mercury has also previously hosted an annual exhibition at the CIF Women in Construction conference.

At Mercury, we understand the importance of advocating for gender equality in our company and the construction industry as a whole, and while we have made significant efforts, we are determined to continue pushing forward and striving for change.

Click here to view our Gender Pay Gap Report 2023

2. OUR WORKPLACECIF Building Diversity & Inclusion

Creating and maintaining a workplace culture that values and leverages our differences and similarities is one of our core strengths.

Learning & Development - We care about the development of our employees - and that stretches from helping them to familiarize with the company and industry, to helping staff to develop leadership skills and expertise in their subject area. We value the depth of experience and specialist knowledge of all our employees and are committed to providing high-quality formal and informal learning as part of our continued investment in our people.

Group Mentoring Programmes - We also care about the development of any employee that may have come from a background where they had been unable to learn about topics related to our industry or business in general. Our group mentoring experience particularly benefits employees who fall into the following categories:

  • Women
  • Foreign Nationals
  • Those who are in the first 10 years of their career

Jill Harmon girls school
Jill Harmon, Senior QS speaks to pupils of St Vincent's Girls NS, Dublin.

3. OUR COMMUNITIES

We strive to create value for our ever diversifying client portfolio by partnering with diverse external stakeholders, engaging in the community in which we operate.

Mercury in the community - As a European based contractor, we work across multiple regions with people of many different backgrounds. We support local communities and underrepresented groups through apprenticeship & educational opportunities, alongside community fundraisers and CSR events.

Supporting local schools - In March 2020, we visited a number of Delivering Equality of Opportunity Schools (DEIS) where we spoke to students about the opportunities available to those wishing to pursue a career with Mercury as a trade or professional. We work with DEIS schools to promote careers for girls in the construction providing a pathway for them to apply for our Apprenticeships and Data Technician Traineeships.

Students of Stanhope Street Girls School at a careers talk
Students of Stanhope Street Girls School at a careers talk hosted by Mercury.

Supporting local communities

Dublin - As a contractor on Ireland's National Children's Hospital, we are actively supporting the surrounding area of Dublin 8, where the project is based. We have employed a number of local residents and have taken part in a number of initiatives and talks in nearby schools.

Paris - One of our most exciting new projects recently began in the Saint-Denis area of Paris. As part of this data centre project, we will utilise a local supply-chain and workforce as much as possible. Along with this, we will support a number of schools, clubs and local initiatives along with our client & supply-chain.