Home building industry moves to future-proof skills pipeline by increasing women’s access to roles
Industry-backed Women into Home Building programme widens access to construction careers to support long-term housing delivery.
A national industry initiative aimed at boosting diversity in the construction sector is offering women the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in site-based leadership roles.
The Women into Home Building programme, led by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) in partnership with Pathway CTM and national and regional home builders, falls within both Women in Construction Week and International Women’s Day, and breaks down barriers that often prevent women from entering leadership positions in the industry.
By offering financial support towards childcare and travel, sponsored by NHBC, the initiative ensures talented women can access and thrive in senior site roles.
For Chelsey Richards, senior site manager at Charles Church, part of the home builder group Persimmon PLC, which is taking part in the programme, it helps women to understand that careers in the industry are possible and “very much achievable”.
Reflecting on her 10 years in the industry, she notes that “there has been a positive shift in the industry, driven by the promotion and campaigns of having women in management roles.”
Candidates will be shadowing the site management teams on site later this year, and Richards is looking forward to sharing the sense of accomplishment that comes from contributing to home building, adding, “I can’t wait for the candidates to stand back and look at the building progression during their time on site. I want to impart that feeling that they have helped contribute to this, to help build a plot and turn it into a home for someone. To then look at the street and see the community they are helping to create.”
Last year, an average of 322,000 women were employed in construction, representing just 15% of the total workforce. Additionally, women make up just 5% of site managers in home building.
An estimated 239,000 new recruits are needed over the next five years to deliver the government’s target of 1.5 million new homes. This has led to government prioritising construction for employment growth, establishing the Construction Skills Mission Board with the ambition of recruiting 100,000 additional construction workers per year by the end of the current Parliament.
However, widening access to construction careers and attracting women, a substantial and largely untapped talent pool, will be essential to future-proofing the workforce and delivering the homes we need.
Industry has acted to meet the challenge through its Women into Home Building programme, part of its wider Home Building Sector Skills Plan, highlighting the breadth of on-site careers available to candidates, with the latest intake offering building inspector placements with NHBC alongside its usual site management placements.
To date, the Women into Home Building programme has successfully supported more than 150 candidates through introductory training and hands-on work experience. This has led to inspired candidates to pursue construction employment, with more than 50 women being offered roles in the industry.
Lords Minister for Housing and Local Government, Baroness Taylor, said: “This housing crisis won’t fix itself. We need more skilled workers, which is why this government is working with the sector to make construction a genuinely viable and rewarding career path for women.
“I welcome the Women into Home Building programme and the vital role it plays in building the diverse workforce we need to deliver 1.5 million new homes.
“This builds on the £625m we’ve already committed to equip tens of thousands more people, including women, with the skills they need to succeed.”
Neil Jefferson, chief executive of the Home Builders Federation, said: “Women into Home Building continues to make a meaningful contribution to strengthening our workforce and broadening the industry’s talent pool. By showcasing the range of careers available to women and providing direct experience on site, the programme is helping to drive lasting change.
“It’s encouraging to see the initiative grow and create opportunities for women in communities right across the country. I would urge anyone interested in a career in home building to take advantage of this opportunity and be part of the next generation shaping our industry.”