Bouygues E&S celebrates Global Intergenerational Week

Global Intergenerational Week is an annual celebration of the diverse talents and skills of people across all generations and a campaign to raise awareness of the inclusive practices workplaces can implement to help people of all generations succeed together. Originally set up during the pandemic to bridge the gap between generations, the week aims to promote understanding, respect, and communication between people of all ages.

At Bouygues Energies & Services (Bouygues E&S), we recognise the importance of intergenerational collaboration and the value that individuals of all ages bring to the workplace. Alongside the intrinsic value of inclusivity, it’s well documented that diversity brings greater business success, and diversity in age is no different. We’re committed to fostering a culture of diversity and equality and are proud to have implemented practices that align with Global Intergenerational Week’s aim to promote inclusivity across generations.

Our Learning & Development team plays a critical role in supporting this mission by ensuring employees of all ages have access to the resources they need for success. With one in five employees saying they would stay with an employer that offers upskilling (Lever, 2022), their work to develop and grow professionals within Bouygues E&S is vital to retaining intergenerational talent. At a time when the skills gap in the built environment is growing, retaining and developing young professionals within our organisation to create a strong talent pipeline is vital for the future of the industry.  

Notably a great example of how we are continuing to develop our workforce is our longstanding mentoring programme, which provides all our employees with the opportunity to benefit from the personalised support a mentorship can offer to help our staff continue to grow into future leaders. Typically, a junior employee benefits from the guidance and expertise of a senior member of staff, gaining valuable learning opportunities and facilitating strong support networks across Bouygues E&S.

Alongside our traditional mentoring programme, we’re proud to also offer reverse mentoring. Junior employees act as mentors to senior employees to share their knowledge, experience, and perspectives, particularly in the field of new technologies and trends. In conjunction with the tangible exchange of skills, this practice promotes communication and collaboration across generations, resulting in closer working relationships and exchange of knowledge.

We’re similarly proud of the work that our employee-led networks undertake to raise awareness of age discrimination, the differing experiences of generations, and the ways in which inclusive working practices can lead to mutual respect, better communication, and enhanced performance.

Earlier in the year, our employee-led women’s network, WeLink UK, hosted an Intergenerational Panel discussion to explore different generations’ experiences of being a woman in the built environment industry. Several inspiring women, all at different stages in their careers, spoke candidly about the challenges they have faced and how age can intersect with gender bias. This event highlighted the importance of intergenerational collaboration, and by sharing their visions for the future and practical advice, WeLink UK continues to offer allyship, support, and resources for women across all generations in Bouygues E&S and beyond.

More recently, Bouygues E&S’ employees were welcomed to join Equans UK and Ireland’s Young Professionals’ Network (YPN). Focused on connecting, growing, and empowering professionals at the early stage of their career, the YPN brings together experienced professionals of all ages to support the personal and professional development of apprentices, kickstarters, graduates, and more. Its regular networking events, lunch and learns, and development sessions hosted with the support of the wider business are testament to how important intergenerational collaboration is to help employees flourish.  

Katie Davies, L&D Manager at Bouygues E&S, shared with us: “Having recently completed the Bouygues E&S graduate scheme myself, I’ve benefitted first-hand from the wide variety of personal and professional development offered to younger members of staff from across the business. My current role as L&D manager supporting that very same graduate scheme highlights the quality of the talent development opportunities available to all within the business and I'm able to continue developing through programmes like our Core Management Academy. Ensuring that the current and future cohorts of graduates can enjoy the same level of intergenerational support and collaboration as I did is a key priority for me, as is highlighting the value and skills that employees in the early stages of their career can offer the business.”

Simon Hayman, Regional Director at Bouygues E&S, added: "Continuing to learn new things is a must at any stage of your career. As a passionate sponsor of the Bouygues E&S' apprenticeship scheme, I'm a firm believer that it's never too late to upskill: apprenticeships are open to all and I strongly encourage everybody to investigate what they have to offer. Of course, this formal learning is best complemented by collaborative learning; exchanging and obtaining knowledge from your peers as well as those in earlier or later stages of their career than you are vital to progressing. It's only through intergenerational collaboration that we can all achieve our full potential."