The UK construction industry has a well-known problem and continues to face significant workforce challenges: not enough people are entering the trades, too many leave early, and diversity remains limited. As demand for infrastructure and repairs increases, the pressure to attract and retain a broader talent pool is mounting. However a new story is slowly emerging. While overall apprenticeship numbers have dipped, the number of women starting construction apprenticeships has surged by over 65% in the last five years, according to data from the Construction and Industry Training Board. And although this is a huge opportunity, it’s only half the battle.
This is why UK company Women in Construction: The Power Within Her is now tackling the next big challenge of retaining new talent and helping them become the leaders of tomorrow. Their programme focuses on the often-overlooked skills – like communication, resilience, and self-belief – that are crucial for women to navigate a male-dominated industry and build long-term careers. While not technical, these elements are essential for career success and often determine whether apprentices remain in the industry or walk away.
Staying the course
With more women enrolling in construction apprenticeships, and crucially, many staying the course, it signals a chance to finally shift the demographics of a workforce that has remained largely unchanged for decades.
Since 2018, the number of women completing construction apprenticeships has more than doubled, from about 340 to over 930. The number of starters also rose to over 2400. However, total apprenticeship starts in construction have dipped slightly overall, making it clear that women represent one of the most overlooked sources of talent. If the industry fails to retain them, it risks losing thousands of skilled workers who could help meet national demand.
But enrolment alone is not enough. The challenge now is to ensure this momentum continues and translates into long-term careers. Many women drop out early due to lack of support, poor workplace cultures, or simply not seeing others like themselves succeed. Despite recent progress, women still make up just 1% of site-based roles. Without sustained investment in support structures, these numbers are unlikely to change meaningfully.
As Michaela Wain, Co-founder of Women in Construction: The Power Within Her, states, companies need to understand the benefits of having women and it shouldn’t just be down to doing the right moral thing.
“It’s been proven across the globe, across every single industry, that a diverse team increases bottom line profits,” she said. “Women unfortunately still make up as being part of a diverse team in the construction industry but the thing we need to acknowledge is the benefits they bring in.”
The programme is already active across several colleges and employers, particularly in areas with high apprenticeship uptake like the northwest of England. It combines technical learning with mindset development and real-world support. The aim is not short-term enrolment but long-term transformation.
Graduates of the scheme are taking on leadership roles, mentoring peers, and working on initiatives around inclusion and workplace culture. Some are reportedly being promoted faster than expected, and others are leading staff engagement projects. Such a ripple effect is how genuine, sustainable change takes root.
Barriers remain though. Women still face unequal pay, poor work-life balance, and outdated site cultures. But such programmes are not about ignoring those challenges. They equip women with the tools to navigate and overcome them.
This is not about special treatment. It is about creating equal opportunity by providing support where it’s most needed. The door to construction is beginning to open wider to women. Now, the focus must be on keeping it open.
womeninconstructionawards.com/all-courses/
