Construction leaders have celebrated new figures revealing a huge rise in the number of women taking on construction apprenticeships.
The fresh figures from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) show the number of women starting construction apprentices jumped from 1,450 to 2,410 between 2018 and 2025 – while the number to complete their courses increased from 340 to 910.
Clare Friel, Founder of Women in Construction Anglia and Editor of Construction Anglia, said the news is a step in the right direction for the industry.
She said: “This is fantastic news for our industry and a sign that positive change is coming.
“We have seen a steady increase in interest in construction careers from women in our region, so it is great to hear this is also the case nationally.
“There are so many incredible organisations out there – the CITB included – who are making a real difference for women in construction and showcasing the amazing career opportunities out there.
“We look forward to working closely with CITB and our industry partners to promote these opportunities to more women throughout the East of England.”
Clare also joined the CITB in calling on construction firms to introduce more policies aimed at promoting gender equality and staff retention for women.
Deb Madden, Executive Director, Customer Engagement and Operations at CITB said: “It’s really encouraging to see the continued increase of women starting and completing construction apprenticeships.
“It’s important that, as an industry, we retain these women and ensure their apprenticeships translate into long-term, secure job opportunities.
“Across the industry, we need to establish a culture that ensures it seeks to understand and meet the needs of people of all backgrounds.
“We need employers to establish clear and accessible pathways for a diverse range of candidates to learn and progress, making it more attractive for them to stay in the industry, and ensure all employees have a good work-life balance.”
The news comes in the same week Sizewell C held its first-ever women in construction careers fair, aimed at recruiting more female staff for the project and its supply chain partners.
The CITB continues to provide support through its Onsite Experience hubs, aimed at enabling career opportunities for people from a range of backgrounds.
One of those hubs, delivered in partnership with The Skills Centre, has seen 182 women trained to secure employment in construction.
