The Construction Industry is a very challenging one. Because of its physically demanding nature, it is considered a male-dominated industry around the world. With the heavy labour and physically draining jobs, a lot of people believe that it is only for the male gender. But despite it being a male-dominated industry, there are quite a few women in the construction industry. Specifically, there were approximately 1.77 million men employed in construction in the UK as of the second quarter of 2024. In contrast to women, who are only employed 271, 000 in the population. With this comparison, there is a large difference between the population of the two genders in the construction industry. But, in spite of this, we cannot deny the fact that women in construction are still as capable as men.
Let's look at the challenges women face in the construction industry and how they break these barriers to create their own success stories.
Challenges Women in Construction Faces
Since the construction industry is labelled as male-dominated, it is a very challenging one for women. This is because of the challenges that they continuously face. The challenges that women face include the following:
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Gender Bias
First, we have challenge number one, which is gender bias. There is an evident gender bias between the two genders. These gender biases can manifest in several ways. This includes exclusion from critical decision-making processes and lack of recognition for their work. Some companies even assign women tasks based on outdated gender norms rather than their skills. They may also encounter resistance from male colleagues or supervisors. Some of them are reluctant to accept women as equals in the field.
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Physical Challenges
The next challenge is in terms of physical. People often associate the construction industry with physically demanding work. This has led to the perception that women may not be competent in performing these tasks. Since people view women as weak or less powerful than men in terms of physical strength, this makes it look like women are inferior to their male counterparts.
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Limited access to Mentorship and Networking Prospects
Both mentorship and networking prospects are critical to career advancement. But women in construction often have fewer mentors. Especially female mentors. This is because of their lack of representation in the industry. Also, this lack of access can result in fewer prospects for career development.
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Addressing the wage gap
Despite their growing numbers, women in construction often have lower wages compared to their male counterparts. On average, women earn less than men for doing the same job. This can discourage more women from pursuing long-term careers in construction.
With these challenges, it is really hard to be a woman in the construction industry. However, these challenges did not stop women from being a part of what they love—the construction industry.
Breaking Barriers: Success Stories of Women in Construction
In spite of the challenges that they face, women in construction continue to thrive. There are a lot of successful stories that are testaments to how competent women are, even in a male-dominated field. For instance, here are some of the women with their success stories in the construction industry. The list includes the following women:
- First, we have Nicola Bird. With over 13 years of experience in the construction industry, she became the founder of AccXel. AccXel is the UK’s first industry-led construction school.
Then we have Kelly Cartwright. She is the owner and director of Core Recruiter Ltd. This is a specialist construction recruitment agency. - Adrienne Gawne-Cain is next on our list. She founded Cain Architects. This is a vibrant, collaborative, and award-winning architectural design practice.
- Next in line is Hattie Hasan MBE. She is the CEO of the Stopcocks Women Plumbers. This is a franchise for women in the plumbing trade.
- Then we also have Rebecca Lovelace. She is the founder of Building People CIC. This is a hub for equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in the built environment.
- Then we have on this list Roni Savage. She founded Jomas Associates. It is an award-winning company of Environmental and Engineering Specialists.
- We also have Helen Redfern. She is the Chief People Officer at Kier Group. That is a British construction, services, and property group. It is active in building and civil engineering, support services, and the Private Finance Initiative.
- Last on our list is Una McCabe. She is a mentoring and support officer at Manufacturing & Engineering Growth & Advancement (MEGA). MEGA is an industry-led collaborative network.
These women continue to be an inspiration for all aspiring women in the construction industry. May their stories ignite a fire inside you!
Educational and Career Prospects for Women in Construction
As for women aiming for leadership or specialised roles in construction, taking online courses can be helpful. Since higher education is a key factor, With that being said, we at the College of Contract Management offer various courses and certifications. All of which cater to different areas.
Our programmes, including diplomas in Construction Project Management, help women develop the skills needed to lead projects, manage teams, and ensure compliance with regulations. These educational pathways not only provide knowledge. But most importantly, credibility in the field.
On top of that, we can help you enrol in courses or critical certifications such as Chartered Membership of the CIOB (Chartered Institute of Building) or other industry-recognised credentials without you needing to take time off work. So what are you waiting for? Check out the College of Contract Management!
CONCLUSION
To sum it up, the construction industry, while historically being male-dominated, is seeing positive changes. This is for the reason that more women enter and thrive in the field. Despite the challenges, women in construction continue to break barriers. And most importantly, be successful in building their careers.
At the College of Contract Management, we are proud to support the growth and development of women in construction. By offering specialised courses, certifications, and online learning prospects, we empower women to pursue leadership roles and advance their careers in this evolving industry. As we celebrate UK Construction Week this October and recognise the achievements of women in construction, now is the perfect time to take the next step in your career.
If you're interested, enrol today at the College of Contract Management! Become part of the future of construction!
