{"id":4612,"date":"2024-05-14T15:12:37","date_gmt":"2024-05-14T15:12:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/?p=4612"},"modified":"2024-05-21T15:09:39","modified_gmt":"2024-05-21T15:09:39","slug":"steven-mifsud-mbe-interviewed-at-mena-construction-summit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/news\/steven-mifsud-mbe-interviewed-at-mena-construction-summit\/","title":{"rendered":"Steven Mifsud MBE interviewed at MENA Construction Summit"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"4612\" class=\"elementor elementor-4612\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fb4f78c elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"fb4f78c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-cf8a0bc\" data-id=\"cf8a0bc\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-721af21 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-title elementor-page-title elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"721af21\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;,&quot;_animation_delay&quot;:300}\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-title.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Steven Mifsud MBE interviewed at MENA Construction Summit<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-26c6a31\" data-id=\"26c6a31\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-714ee7a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"714ee7a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-94ef759\" data-id=\"94ef759\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-01b39e6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"01b39e6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b36c1ee elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-info\" data-id=\"b36c1ee\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-info.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-inline-items elementor-icon-list-items elementor-post-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-5b4e2a4 elementor-inline-item\" itemprop=\"datePublished\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/2024\/05\/14\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-calendar\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-date\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time>May 14, 2024<\/time>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-90b9a44 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"90b9a44\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-70163c5\" data-id=\"70163c5\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a3f1fde elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a3f1fde\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Answering questions on-stage, Steven spoke at the MENA Construction Summit this week on multiple topics effecting the future of the construction industry, ranging from Saudisation, to diversifying the workforce, to improving the local school curriculum.<\/p><p>Accessibility and inclusion play key roles in how attraction providers can contribute to the sustainable development goals set out by Saudi Vision 2030, so Steven was happy to share his expertise from Direct Access&#8217; experience providing consultancy for multiple giga-projects within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including SEVEN and Qiddiya City.<\/p><p>The interview:<\/p><p><strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW237520938 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW237520938 BCX8\">The construction industry has traditionally lagged in diversifying the workforce and localisation in general. How is this changing and what are the main challenges to be overcome?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW237520938 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cNurturing diversity within the construction industry is certainly a challenge, and we have witnessed that because even defining what inclusion and diversity are within the industry can be hard.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In Saudi Arabia specifically, Direct Access has been working as access consultants to a lot of influential companies to try and change this; helping their architects understand the importance of accessibility from both a legal and ethical standpoint &#8211; because you can have accessibility without inclusion, but you can\u2019t have inclusion without accessibility.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As for what we\u2019re doing to overcome it\u2026.one of our first big contracts in the Middle East was the construction and day-to-day management of Expo 2020 Dubai. Back when we started working with their Architects in 2018, accessibility was a relatively new practice and there were gaps in local knowledge, culturally. We approached this and worked around it by creating a benchmark report that measured all of the global accessibility guidance and streamlining it. This not only helped the designers create an accessible site, but pushed the boundaries of inclusion in the region.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">So to answer the question, we think the international expertise of companies like ours, in collaboration with local teams, will be key to diversifying the workforce, because culturally the idea and potential of diversification have rarely been explored up until now. But through collaboration with international businesses such as ours, it is changing for the better\u201d.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW231223618 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW231223618 BCX8\">How can Saudi Arabia provide the necessary skills to Saudis and encourage them to enter the construction industry?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW231223618 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p><p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW189295020 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW189295020 BCX8\">\u201cIt seems obvious to say &#8211; but I think <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW189295020 BCX8\">providing<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW189295020 BCX8\"> good education opportunities is key to both the skills and encouragement part of that question. Good education is what allows people to learn not only how to do the work, but also understand the value of what is being produced. On a much smaller level at Direct Access, <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW189295020 BCX8\">we\u2019ve<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW189295020 BCX8\"> been successful because our team <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW189295020 BCX8\">truly believes<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW189295020 BCX8\"> in what <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW189295020 BCX8\">we\u2019re<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW189295020 BCX8\"> doing, that we are adding something of value to the world for disabled people, fighting for the resources that society has lo<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW189295020 BCX8\">ng denied them. There are other factors too, like paying a competitive wage is always a good incentive, right? But it starts, I think, through education and giving the individual a reason to choose construction over computer science, or engineering, or some other career.\u201d<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW189295020 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW3748084 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW3748084 BCX8\">What incentives can the government provide to the private sector to increase <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW3748084 BCX8\">Saudisation<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW3748084 BCX8\">?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW3748084 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p><p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW41350076 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW41350076 BCX8\">\u201cTruthfully, I <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW41350076 BCX8\">don\u2019t<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW41350076 BCX8\"> think <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW41350076 BCX8\">I&#8217;m<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW41350076 BCX8\"> educated enough on politics within the Kingdom to feel like I can give an acceptable answer, but as a business owner &#8211; I can tell you that ensuring that local talent is better than international options will help <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW41350076 BCX8\">Saudisation<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW41350076 BCX8\">. I read an article somewhere a few months ago that said unemployment among <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun Highlight SCXW41350076 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW41350076 BCX8\">Saudi women has fallen to 15.7%, down from 19.3% in 2022 &#8211; which is fantastic and a good sign of things to come for Saudi. <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW41350076 BCX8\">In my opinion, though<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW41350076 BCX8\">, ensuring that local citizens continue to be competitive with expats will help, and making that happen means &#8211; again, <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW41350076 BCX8\">providing<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW41350076 BCX8\"> good education opportunities, apprenticeships, etc.\u201d<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW41350076 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW39707105 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW39707105 BCX8\">Can the focus of schools and university curriculums be improved to provide the right academic, technical, and vocational skillsets for skilled <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW39707105 BCX8\">labor<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW39707105 BCX8\"> and engineering?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW39707105 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p><p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW249193385 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW249193385 BCX8\">\u201cAgain, <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW249193385 BCX8\">I&#8217;m<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW249193385 BCX8\"> not familiar with the local school-to-university curriculums to answer this fully &#8211; but I think looking at what other nations are doing and what is working for them is <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW249193385 BCX8\">probably a<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW249193385 BCX8\"> good place to start. My home country, the UK, has seen a year-on-year increase of people working in the engineering sector for years now &#8211; so if schools and universities in the Kingdom believe that they can do better for their <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW249193385 BCX8\">labor<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW249193385 BCX8\"> force, <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW249193385 BCX8\">there\u2019s<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW249193385 BCX8\"> a good chance it <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW249193385 BCX8\">probably can<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW249193385 BCX8\"> and should be improved.\u201d<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW249193385 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW227251159 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW227251159 BCX8\">What role can international companies play or are playing in knowledge transfer and training for Saudi nationals?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW227251159 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cWell, as a representative of an international business, sitting in front of you all right now\u2026 I do believe knowledge transfer plays a role in the development of training Saudi nationals.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Again, going back to our work for Expo City during Expo 2020 and COP28 &#8211; the cultural gaps and perceptions of disability were challenges that we overcame by providing accessibility workshops and inclusivity training ourselves in tangent with Expo City\u2019s team. Doing that meant that local and international staff understood how to properly interact with disabled people when they visited pavilions on site, understood why providing accessible signage across the site was important, and so much else that might never have been considered without our team being there. Right now, we\u2019re working closely with SEVEN on their accessible theme parks, and we\u2019ve also been working in Diriyah Gate on the accessibility of commercial office spaces.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In the United Arab Emirates, we even designed and implemented the first ever Changing Places facility in the whole of the Middle East at Expo 2020 Dubai \u2013 which was incredible. We also introduced the Middle East to the Hidden Disability Sunflower Lanyard, resulting in an endorsement for the Lanyards from the UAE Minister of State for International Co-Operation. Both of those were touchstone moments for us, as far as realizing the extent that having international expertise can make an impact locally because each of those examples resulted in the delivery of accessibility training and the creation of jobs\u201d.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><strong><span class=\"TextRun SCXW104543118 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW104543118 BCX8\">What is being completed to empower abilities and promote inclusive employment opportunities?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW104543118 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cAs well as looking at accessibility for both physical and digital spaces, Direct Access also makes it our business to improve the social perception of disabled people. And what I mean by that is that we encourage businesses to provide adjustments to the workplace that suit the needs of disabled people, normalizing their unique perspective in the workplace. We also ensure that employers are not biased towards or against disabled people, and offer services such as inclusivity training to staff, which makes disabled people feel safe applying for jobs they may otherwise not consider because their needs might not be met or understood.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">For those who might not be aware, we are a company made up of largely disabled people, and we achieved this not only by hiring selectively, but by encouraging talented disabled people to want to work for us. Talented people with abilities are out there, you just need to make sure they can be seen and heard &#8211; which means including people with disabilities in your marketing strategy, providing your job descriptions in alternative formats, and ensuring that the interview process is flexible and suits the needs of the individual. So that\u2019s what we\u2019re doing, and what we\u2019re also encouraging others to do as well\u201d.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ea8707a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ea8707a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b5b3935\" data-id=\"b5b3935\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0e53612 elementor-post-navigation-borders-yes elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-navigation\" data-id=\"0e53612\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-navigation.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation\" role=\"navigation\" aria-label=\"Post Navigation\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation__prev elementor-post-navigation__link\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/news\/direct-access-to-open-new-london-office-to-accommodate-expanding-clientele\/\" rel=\"prev\"><span class=\"post-navigation__arrow-wrapper post-navigation__arrow-prev\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-angle-left\"><\/i><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Prev<\/span><\/span><span class=\"elementor-post-navigation__link__prev\"><span class=\"post-navigation__prev--label\">Previous<\/span><span class=\"post-navigation__prev--title\">Direct Access to open new London office to accommodate expanding clientele<\/span><\/span><\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation__separator-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation__separator\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation__next elementor-post-navigation__link\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/news\/expo-city-install-first-ever-direct-access-tactile-map-at-the-museum-of-expo-2020\/\" rel=\"next\"><span class=\"elementor-post-navigation__link__next\"><span class=\"post-navigation__next--label\">Next<\/span><span class=\"post-navigation__next--title\">Expo City Dubai install first ever Direct Access Tactile Map at the Museum of Expo 2020<\/span><\/span><span class=\"post-navigation__arrow-wrapper post-navigation__arrow-next\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-angle-right\"><\/i><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Next<\/span><\/span><\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e728e73 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e728e73\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-88c3afb\" data-id=\"88c3afb\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Answering questions on-stage, Steven spoke at the MENA Construction Summit this week on multiple topics effecting the future of the construction industry, ranging from Saudisation, to diversifying the workforce, to improving the local school curriculum. Accessibility and inclusion play key roles in how attraction providers can contribute to the sustainable development goals set out by [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":4636,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[27],"class_list":["post-4612","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-accessibility-guidance"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Steven Mifsud MBE interviewed at MENA Construction Summit - Direct Access<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"After speaking to theme park operators, Steven was interviewed at the MENA Construction Summit about the future of the construction industry.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/news\/steven-mifsud-mbe-interviewed-at-mena-construction-summit\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Steven Mifsud MBE interviewed at MENA Construction Summit - 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