This Women in Construction Week coincided with International Women’s Day, shining a spotlight on the severe underrepresentation of women in construction.
With the sector facing an urgent skills shortage, increasing female participation is not just about diversity, it’s about securing the future of the industry.
That’s where PfP Thrive comes in. Our new training academy is tackling this crisis head-on, working with businesses across the housing, construction, and property sectors to deliver training, apprenticeships, and upskilling opportunities – ensuring women have greater access to the industry.
A workforce at breaking point
Recruiters and HR leaders across the built environment are struggling to find talent. Our 2024 research paper, conducted in partnership with the University of Cambridge, revealed a critical shortfall of 140,000 workers in these sectors. 55% of businesses are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit skilled workers in key trades such as plumbing, bricklaying, carpentry, and electrical work.
Without urgent intervention – through high-quality training and apprenticeship schemes – the sector simply won’t be able to meet the UK’s housing and infrastructure demands.
Breaking down barriers for women
While the skills shortage is pressing, there is an untapped talent pool that remains largely overlooked: women.
Our research highlights that women account for just 0.9% of the skilled trades workforce – a statistic that exposes deep-rooted barriers to entry. Informal hiring practices, a lack of visible role models, and persistent stereotypes all contribute to keeping women out of these professions.
The question is: how do we change this?
Two solutions: recruitment and training
Firstly, we need to champion women through better recruitment. Businesses need to be louder, prouder advocates for women in construction. That means proactively hiring women and ensuring they have the same opportunities as their male counterparts. It means showcasing female role models; representation matters, and more visibility will encourage the next generation.
And it we need to create mentorship and sponsorship programmes that give women the confidence and connections to thrive.
Secondly, we need to retain women through better training and development. Attracting women into the sector is just the start. We also need to support and retain them by investing in targeted skills development to keep women progressing in their careers.
We also need to ensure that inclusive workplace cultures that prioritise equality in pay, promotions, and leadership opportunities, and we need to address bias and stereotypes in job roles, ensuring women feel welcome in every part of the industry.
A collective responsibility
Addressing gender disparity in construction isn’t just a moral imperative. It’s a business necessity. With such a severe skills shortage, we can no longer afford to exclude half the population from these crucial industries.
PfP Thrive is committed to leading this change, but we need businesses, policymakers, and industry leaders to step up and join us. Together, we can build a more inclusive, skilled, and future-proof workforce for the UK.
The time for action is now. Who’s with us?
Becky Edwards is an experienced HR professional and Head of Apprenticeships at PfP Thrive, where she has spent the past year establishing the brand. She has built an impressive HR career, previously working with HomeServe, where she influenced stakeholders at ExCo and Board level to foster high-performance, people-focused cultures.
Becky excels in relationship and stakeholder management, with a proven ability to influence at Executive level to drive strategic implementation. She is also highly skilled in managing third-party providers and is a sought-after coach and mentor.
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