13% of the construction industry in the UK is made up of women, according to ONS Figures. Within this, women currently hold only 16.2% of senior roles, such as managers or directors (Construction News, 2022). However, the number of women working in construction is on the rise; 37% of new entrants into the construction industry from higher education are woman (GoConstruct,2023). Today celebrates International Women’s Day 2023, which sits in the middle of Women in Construction Week (5-11 March). This week strives to encourage the next generation of women to enter into the construction industry and celebrate and promote the role of women in construction.

I chose a career in Construction Project Management as it was a completely new challenge for me. My background in geography has meant that I have always had an interest in the built environment, and how development and globalisation changes landscapes and has major socioeconomic impacts upon the populations that live there. A career in construction means that you can have a positive impact upon people’s lives and no two projects, or days, are the same!

Being a woman in construction means that I am able to break down the stereotypes within the industry and change how women are perceived. I am respected for the work I do, and the industry provides great opportunities to grow in my career and is a great arena for skills development. Despite the industry becoming more inclusive, many women may feel intimidated to join such a male dominated workforce and it is important to ensure women do not feel like this. There are many benefits of having women in construction, including increasing the industry’s diversity of thought and innovation, and bringing in new approaches to the work, which ultimately improves efficiency and productivity.

If I could give one piece of advice to women wanting to work within construction, it would be to not let their preconceptions of the industry get in between them and taking a leap into a career in construction. The industry is changing and adapting to the diversity of the workforce, and it is a great platform to develop you career and learn completely new skills.

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Ellie Rouget, Trainee Project Manager

HLG Associates, Guernsey