Yoshimi Douglas-Street at London Build at the Diversity and Inclusion Stage with Faith Abudu

At London Build Expo 2025, Faith Abudu had the privilege of speaking with Yoshimi Douglas-Street, Operations Director at Mace, about her inspiring journey into construction and what real inclusion looks like in practice.Yoshimi shared her pathway into the industry and transferable skills, her humble beginning from sport to painting and decorating to working her way up to the Operation Director of Mace. Highlighting apprenticeship as her preferred route into construction, a message that strongly aligns with DIIC Diversity and Inclusion In Construction mission to promote accessible, skills-based entry routes into the built environment.Our conversation explored the ongoing construction skills shortage and why diversity and inclusion are not “nice to have”, but critical to the future of the industry with demand for skilled professionals continuing to rise, widening access to underrepresented talent has never been more important.Support the show