‘I Couldn’t Keep Encouraging Women Into an Industry that Wasn’t Set up for Them’

Key Takeaways

• Construction for Women now active in 12 UK cities.
• Mentored women at UKREiiF grew from 156 to over 300 this year.
• National Site Standard sets auditable site‑culture expectations from induction.
• Tier‑1 contractors and local authorities are piloting the Standard.
• Women represent only ~15% of construction workforce; retention is the core issue.

Pulse Analysis

The UK construction industry has long cited a skills shortage, yet women comprise only about 15 % of the workforce and are even scarcer on active sites. Studies show that the real bottleneck is cultural: unwelcoming environments, inadequate welfare facilities, and a lack of clear behavioural expectations drive early exits. As the sector confronts an ageing labour pool and a surge in housing demand, retaining existing talent becomes as critical as attracting new recruits. Addressing these cultural barriers therefore represents a strategic imperative for firms seeking sustainable growth.

Renée Preston, MD of Gallaway Construction, turned a single taster day for 90 schoolgirls into a nationwide movement. Her nonprofit, Construction for Women, now operates across 12 cities and has expanded mentorship at the UKREiiF conference from 156 women last year to more than 300 this year. The programme exposes girls to roles such as quantity surveying, drone surveying and interior design, but Preston quickly learned that access alone does not solve the problem. In response she co‑created the National Site Standard, an auditable framework that codifies inclusive welfare, fitted PPE, trusted reporting and leadership accountability from day one.

Early adoption signals industry momentum: Tier‑1 contractors like Wates Group, developers, and local authorities such as Greater Manchester Combined Authority are piloting the Standard. By embedding measurable cultural metrics into site audits, firms can quantify turnover reductions, lower project delays and improve cost performance. Moreover, a more inclusive environment strengthens employer branding, attracting a broader talent pool in a competitive market. If the Standard becomes a procurement requirement, it could shift the construction narrative from a pipeline issue to a retention solution, ultimately delivering faster, higher‑quality builds for the UK economy.