On a bustling construction site in Earl’s Court, west London, Charlie Lillington is mastering the operation of a heavy JCB dumper truck, a skill she describes as a „dream“. The 39-year-old mother of six transitioned from a farming career, inspired by her nephew, a scaffolder, who encouraged her to explore opportunities in the construction industry.
„He told me to go for it – and I did,“ Lillington shared, noting that her shift from driving a tractor to operating a dumper felt seamless.
Having begun her journey in groundwork, Lillington is now participating in a pioneering women-only course focused on heavy machinery training, the first of its kind in London, organized by the Skills Centre. The presence of women on construction sites remains a rarity, with females constituting only 14-15% of the total workforce and a mere 1-2% in practical roles, according to data from the training board.
Increasing Female Representation in Construction
The construction sector is grappling with a significant skills shortage, compounded by the ambitious goal of building 1.5 million new homes. In response, initiatives are underway to attract more women into the field. Recent analyses by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) indicate a rise in female participation in construction apprenticeships. In 2018, 340 women completed apprenticeships, and 1,450 began their training; by 2025, these numbers are projected to increase to 910 completions and 2,410 new starts, marking an impressive growth of over 160%.
Among the women taking part in these initiatives is Happy Konete, who completed her apprenticeship in framework and shuttering six years ago and has since established herself as a carpenter. „We are pioneers,“ said the 59-year-old, who is now training to become a dumper driver. She emphasizes the need for greater access to information and opportunities for women in the industry, asserting that her course enhances visibility for female workers.
„Many men aren’t used to seeing women in construction. That needs to change. They need to get used to seeing more of us – on site, in offices, and operating machinery like dumpers and rollers,“ Konete stated.
Addressing the Skills Gap and Gender Disparities
Deb Madden from CITB acknowledges the progress made but stresses that significant challenges remain. She points to a persistent skills gap and warns that excluding women, ethnic minorities, and individuals with disabilities from the workforce hampers the industry’s ability to address these shortages.
Madden highlights that many construction sites still fail to accommodate women’s needs, advocating for changes such as the introduction of appropriately sized personal protective equipment (PPE), the provision of onsite toilets for women, and more open discussions regarding pregnancy, menstrual health, and menopause.
„It can be difficult for women to be open about what they need, and can ultimately make them feel excluded,“ Madden explained. „Without supportive conditions and inclusive facilities, too many women leave for entirely preventable reasons.“
The construction sector also continues to grapple with the largest gender pay gap, with female employees earning approximately 79 pence for every pound earned by their male counterparts, according to 2025 data from The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Furthermore, women occupy only 7% of executive roles within the industry, as reported by Simian, a leading construction and scaffolding firm.
„Women will come into the industry but don’t stay in the industry,“ Madden remarked. „If we’re closing off whole groups because the culture or the way we operate on site doesn’t lend itself to them, we are really closing down the opportunity to effectively address that skills gap.“
Innovative Approaches to Attract Women to Construction
Sam Downton, a founding director of the Skills Centre, emphasizes the necessity for innovation to attract more individuals to the construction sector. „We need to get more women in construction across London and across the UK. We have a responsibility,“ he stated, highlighting the industry’s significant skills gap and aging workforce.
Downton noted that while strides have been made in recruiting individuals, retaining only male workers is insufficient. In the 2024/25 period, there were 1,600 female learners enrolled in construction planning and built environment apprenticeships, achieving a 56.2% success rate, according to government statistics.
A government spokesperson confirmed that a £600 million investment aims to address skills shortages in the industry, with the goal of creating up to 60,000 additional engineers, bricklayers, electricians, and joiners by 2029. The spokesperson reiterated the commitment to supporting women entering the construction field, including through Skills Bootcamps that provide practical training across England.
Bildquelle: © Ra Boe / Wikipedia via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0 de)
