Fight Breaks Out Over the "Alienation of Women" in Construction | Dragons' Den

[Music] hello my name is Jude complan this is Christie Shaw we've come here today for investment in our two companies evolution solutions and evolved through training the investment we're looking for is 150,000 pounds for 20% evolution solutions is a construction company which champions women in the construction industry that means that wherever possible we employ women tradespeople evolution solutions started trading in September 2005 [Music] nerves are getting the better of Jude she'll have to regain her composure quickly to stand any chance of persuading the dragons to invest we champion women in the construction industry housing associations have to hit diversity targets we solve that problem for them there are some environments men just can't go into as refugees sheltered housing we also have a lot of anecdotal evidence which also says that customers just prefer women in their homes you know that that's probably because of the much televised pop pellet build every one region through Nick draw that that you know gets that perception but it's out there and it is about trust Chris is going to talk about evolve through training right there's two sides to the business that you've heard this building company we also have an academy right the academies set out over three sites in Derby and it was designed specifically to go to deliver good quality construction training to everyone the Academy will deliver sitting Gil's accredited training through intensive courses in five aspects of the construction trades I'll hand you back to Jude we want an Academy and a construction company in every major city of the UK within 10 years we also want to see a woman on every building site within five years so thank you for your time and please ask any questions thank you after a shaky start Jude and Chrissy have made it through their pitch they're asking for a hundred and fifty thousand pounds but the twenty percent equity they're offering in return is split between two companies it's an unusual deal and Debora Medan needs some clarification I need to understand those two companies how does that work evolution Solutions has been trading a lot longer if all through training is launching in August as Chrissy said okay and what's the turnover and evolve through training well probably looking at about five hundred thousand in the first year so there's no at the moment no turnover in either of the businesses now evolution solutions has been trading since September 2005 and up until April we turned over any about 150,000 pounds and out of 150,000 how much does that drop into profit if I was I'm gonna be totally honest not a lot this year we we've made a loss are you offering 20% of each of your companies so that's that's 20% split up so 5% evolved through training 15% evolution serrations how does that word you mean absolute work 5% every vote you actually give me five percent of one company fifteen over the other you're not give me twenty percent are you well all right 20 percent is combined over both it will hurt like that one could be worth a hundred pounds right and you give me twenty percent of it that's 20 quid yeah keep it simple and yeah we do I apologize but we face you've got a terrible artist I tell you I on that point on that on that point I've got a serious issue with that comment well you know how many women I work with yeah you don't have a guess I have no idea I don't know who to be perfectly honest you don't know who we are you've pitched up asked for one hundred and fifty thousand pounds yeah for twenty percent which is actually 5% of one company and fifty percent of another company you don't know who we are you made a flippant comment without if you've done your homework it would have made a comment Jude has incensed Theo Paphitis Debora Medan tries to steer the discussion back to business how about we start again and you talk us through your business model and how we make some money and just want to understand the business can you explain to me why you think there aren't more women in the construction industry at the moment if you've got 20 men on one woman vying for a position in a building company as a trainee whether you like it or not men still choose to take on man that that is a fact as well do you know you're beginning to sound like a crusade it's a campaign because there's an it's a niche market there's a niche in the market Jude's approach to the business is not impressing the Dragons Peter Jones is ready to have his say using words like campaigning using words like I want a woman on every building site well do you not see the alienation do you not see the alienation that will ensue no we've already got five dragons pretty hacked well you know I'm gonna do when you go to the open market and sell your services succeeded we have got you have succeeded you've succeeded at nothing that's not strictly true you haven't got a business that makes any money and you haven't even started a trading business now Jude and Chrissie have been blasted by Peter Jones with emotions running high in the den Richard Farley steps in to find out what sets their businesses apart from rival construction and training companies you've got a business the evolution is about hiring out women is that right or women and men an academy is for men and women so you've got you've got to put two businesses yes the unique thing about the academy is what we deliver not only construction training but the whole package will address customer focus okay so nothing to do with men and women then you've got this construction business which is unique in what sense because we do offer women tradespeople as well as men we give customers the choice you're saying that your construction company there is a demand out there for people who do want women yes it's slightly confusing because your unique selling point is that you've got a high ratio of women but you still have men yes if you come and pitch an idea of your concept actually said look do you know what my most critical success factor to my whole business model is the fact that I'm going to focus exclusively on women my whole business model is going to be based around putting more women into construction industry in key areas where actually they add value really good quality people that were trained through you Chrissie they then move over to the business once they're trained and you then tend to the contracts exclusively you are the female side of the construction industry I think you now start to have a really good business do that because of the Discrimination Act but you know this is something you should really find out because I think you should be selling point yeah you should really find out what I want to say and I'm gonna complete here isn't that is that what you've come in to try and pitch you've pitched it in such a discriminating way your attitude has to change from focusing on the discrimination to focusing on the key benefit I'm not going to invest in you so I'm out Peter Jones has heard enough he's the first dragon out Theo Paphitis who clashed with Jude from the start has also made up his mind you came here today looking for someone to invest in you a huge amount of money if you do some homework you to come up here in front the five dragons I made a pitch that Marge's persuade deters or invest in you a hundred and fifty thousand pounds I don't believe it invest of all and I won't be investing so I'm out now I can't back you either because you haven't demonstrated that you've found a clear way forward and I think you need to learn those lessons before someone can give us give you one hundred fifty thousand to play with and that the uphill climb you've got to undertake I'm gonna drop out as well so thank you with Theo Paphitis Richard Farley and Peter Jones all out Jude and Chris's chances of securing one hundred and fifty thousand pounds are hanging by a thread as Deborah Medan heard anything that will tempt her to back the pair Jude Chrissy I think you might have be on to something if you listened to the advice you know my big concern is watching YouTube when you get advice there's a big sigh and there's a buck you're doing it exactly that is exactly the point we are in here today to look for business opportunities what you bought to us was a debate that you instigated over discrimination over women in the workplace over crusading and campaigning that's how you started we have helped you to bring this back onto a business platform but every single time we tried to talk about something you don't like to hear you're very very defensive anyway so you're doing it again Jude you're not listening to me so I'm afraid for that reason I'm out [Music] it looks all but over for Jude and Chrissy only Duncan Bannatyne now stands between them and expulsion from the den I've just found you rude offensive very sexist that is discriminatory I employ a lot of women employ more women than I employ man and they do a fantastic job would an employer know would invest in you no never so I'm out I've heard worse if you've had worse and you keep hearing it you keep going to place you know but try going in with that ship and you're sure that you're the only person who's right we're all wrong everybody's wrong you've got a massive ship when you show that terrible attitude that's your problem fine with the words of a furious Duncan Bannatyne ringing in their ears Jude and Chrissy are leaving the den empty-handed and the dragons are smoldering well that was the hardest work trying to understand a business in that model I've ever heard did we discuss business no but they're actually any do you know what she hasn't got a chip on her shoulder she's finally balanced she's got one on each shoulder yeah well said well said gee Chrissy are you are you blaming yourselves nope they love me didn't I we do aggressive or nervous how does that work what you mean how does it work that is unfortunately my manner I am you like that yeah yeah I say what we both say what we believe in what about the chip on your shoulder no not a chip do I get frustrated and when you want to change something for the better and the reason you can't is because you're a woman you know it does fix me I've heard worse and I don't apologize for how I am I have to be like this to survive in the industry and if you're not you just leave it good luck thank you very much thank you [Applause]

Channel: Dragons' Den

Views: 2,353,607

Rating: 4.8515592 out of 5

Keywords: dragons den, dragons den uk, evan davis, deborah meaden, peter jones, touker suleyman, tej lalvani, business pitching, entrepreneur, game show, shark tank, dragons, den, best, bits, new, worst, pitches, funniest, moments, most, shocking, ideas, products, businesses, dragons den funny, dragons den 2018, dragons den season 16, dragons den best pitch, peter jones dragons den, Jude Camplin, Chrissie Shaw, Women in construction

Id: dadNBfNmh5I

Length: 12min 28sec (748 seconds)

Published: Wed Sep 04 2019

Reddit Comments

[u/polishgravy]

I work in a construction office. We had a job opening a few months ago so I put an ad out for the job. I never specified gender or anything, I just said that applicants must be able to lift up to 50lbs repeatedly. Of the 100+ resumes I got, I had 1 woman apply.

Edit: To add a little more specificity, we were looking for snow-shovelers. The 50lbs is the weight of the bags of ice-melt that we use. The requirement was to pick a bag up off the pallet and put it in a 5ft high hopper. If you could do that with 10 bags, then you met the requirement.

[u/firefly6345]

I still don’t understand what this was about. They want to employ women more? But also men or what.

[u/blockhaed]

Karenstruction company

[u/onesirian]

Where has r/cringe been all my life. This is like therapy.

[u/SpitefulVulture]

Early dragons den was just the best

[u/mushroomwig]

I bet they have a 'Live, Love, Laugh' sign hanging up somewhere in their home

[u/alrashid2]

I feel bad for how nervous she is. I'm the same way. It's such a horrific feeling. You have such good thoughts but you can't get them out when front and center! Ugh still cringe though

[u/martybalaweisi]

This really takes the cake. How many times do you need to hear "you're discriminating against people and you're being rude about it" before you realise that you're not a victim?

[u/notABot__0]

This is who is calling you a misogynist on the internet