The Home Builders Federation (HBF) has launched the fifth cohort of its Women into Home Building programme to attract more women into site management careers.
The programme is being delivered in partnership with 10 home builders to offer more than 30 training, support and work placements.
Participating home builders include:
- Bellway, Gleeson
- Hill Group
- Lovell Homes
- Northstone
- Places for People
- Prospect Homes
- St Modwen Homes
- Tilia Homes
- Vistry Group
The news follows the announcement that industry non-profit Women into Construction (WiC) is ceasing trading after 16 years.
Women into Construction was formerly partnered with HBF to deliver the programme.
The announcement after the organisation “suffered a difficult trading year due to a challenging economic climate for the charitable and construction sectors,” concluding that the “business model is no longer viable.”
Over the 16 years, more than 4,700 women received in-depth support, plus 3000 completing industry training and 1,300 completing work placements leading to full time employment for 1,300, according to Women into Construction managing director Kath Moore MBE.
Moore said on social media: “Our work has transformed the lives of over 1300 women who now work in construction – and we know that this mighty army will continue to challenge and change the construction companies they now work in.”
She also noted that there is still more to do to transform diversity in the industry.
ONS data shows that women account for 16 per cent of the current construction workforce, with 320,000 women employed in construction in 2023, according to the latest Labour Force Survey.
As for site managers, HBF claims women account for 4 per cent of them in the home building industry.
As well as addressing the gender imbalance, part of the aim of the programme is to help meet the skills shortage currently faced in the industry.
Earlier this year, a report by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) claimed that 251,500 extra workers would be required to meet UK construction output by 2028.
Since its first cohort in 2023, the Women into Home Building programme has engaged 238 women and helped guide 65 candidates through training and work experience, while supporting 20 into employment.
The fifth cohort of the programme will see successful candidates matched to a local home building site to complete a two-week work placement, providing hands-on experience and the opportunity to connect with potential employers.
Neil Jefferson, Chief Executive at HBF, says: “The home building industry offers a variety of rewarding careers and we must continue to invest in and increase the diversity of our workforce if we are to meet the ambitious housing targets set by the government.
“Having women in on-site leadership roles expands perspectives, introduces different leadership styles and boosts creativity, so we’re pleased to be working with our members once again to deliver the Women into Home Building programme.
“Our programme has been developed to increase awareness of the leadership careers available and routes to employment, whilst giving participants employer-backed knowledge and experience to kick-start their careers.”
Applications close at 5pm on Sunday 22 September 2024, which you can find here.
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