Why you won’t see girls like these at this year’s Construction Week show
SHOWGIRLS in revealing outfits have been banned from a building trade show following criticism over sexism in the industry.
UK Construction Week says firms could now have stands shut down following a row over a Las Vegas-style stand at last year’s event.
Bosses apologised after four women in showgirl outfits were used to sell roofing products.
Event organiser Media 10 has now issued a new code of conduct ahead of its next exhibition in Birmingham in October, saying the construction industry was changing its image.
The rule changes for the 650 firms represented at Construction Week include demands that staff on stands dress in business attire and represent the cultural diversities of their companies.
The policy states: ‘Clothing must be deemed appropriate for a business event. If the organiser deems the clothing to be unsuitable the organiser reserves the right to prevent admittance of the staff. Consider the mix of staff you have on the stand (gender, age, ethnicity etc), do they represent the diversity of your company?’
Speaking on BBC Radio 4 yesterday, Construction Week director Nathan Garnett said: ‘Following what happened last year... that was a mistake... we regret it, but we have turned it into a positive. The company in question has apologised for what’s happened. The theme of the stand was “Why gamble?” but it went too far.’
The row of the use of promotions girls has grown following
From Thursday’s Mail the Financial Times’ report into the sleazy goings- on at the President’s Club ball in London last month. Since then, darts championships and Formula One have said they will no longer hire scantily-clad hostesses to adorn their events. However last week, it emerged some women working at the ICE Totally Gaming event were wearing ‘little more than swimsuits’, while men wore smart suits. One woman could be seen at the event in London’s Docklands, gyrating around a pole in bondage lingerie while other women were dressed as cheerleaders and burlesque dancers.
The conference drew condemnation from the Gambling Commission’s chief executive, Sarah Harrison, who said it may boycott the show in future over the ‘swimwear’ sexism.