This week, as we mark International Women’s Day on 8th March and celebrate Women in Construction Week, we are taking the opportunity to recognise the contributions, achievements, and perspectives of women across every part of the built environment. At BJF Group, that means delivering and maintaining critical estates across a variety of environments, from defence and custodial settings to universities, commercial sites, and other complex public sector facilities.
Women in Construction Week gives us a moment not only to celebrate the women across our industry but also to reflect on the progress being made and the work still to do in creating truly inclusive workplaces.
The Industry Picture
Women currently make up around 15% of the UK construction workforce, approximately 340,000–350,000 people. However, the distribution of roles tells a more nuanced story. On-site manual or skilled trade roles remain predominantly male, with women occupying only 1–3% of these positions. Apprenticeships have seen progress, with female participation rising to over 15% of new entrants, up from under 10% a decade ago. Despite this, women hold just 7% of senior management and board-level roles, and the gender pay gap remains wider than the national average, with women disproportionately represented in lower-paid roles. Over half of women surveyed report that construction does not always feel like a welcoming sector. At the same time, the number of tradeswomen in the UK has grown by 41% since 2006, showing that progress is happening, though sustained effort is still required.
Construction Is Evolving, and So Must We
The modern built environment requires far more than traditional perceptions of construction. Across our Facilities Management, Construction, M&E, MEP, and Project Services divisions, delivery depends on technical engineering expertise, strong commercial oversight, compliance and regulatory precision, digital coordination and reporting, sustainability knowledge, and robust health and safety leadership.
Working in secure and highly regulated environments, particularly defence and custodial estates, demands disciplined planning, clear communication, and strong team collaboration. Diverse teams strengthen this delivery, bringing broader perspectives that improve problem-solving, risk management, and decision-making. In operational environments where safety and compliance are paramount, inclusion directly supports performance.
Representation on Site
One of the most visible challenges remains on-site representation.
With women occupying only 1–3% of manual site-based roles across the industry, increasing visibility and accessibility into trade and technical pathways remains critical. Apprenticeships are one area of progress, with female participation rising to over 15% of new entrants nationally.
But recruitment alone is not enough. Retention, development, and progression into supervisory, technical, and leadership roles must follow. Clear pathways, mentoring, and supportive site cultures are essential to sustaining that progress.
The Role of Support and Structure
As a directly employing organisation, we recognise that building opportunity is about more than hiring; it is about long-term development.
Training, compliance oversight, operational coordination, and structured leadership all play a role in creating environments where individuals can progress. In complex estates, strong foundations behind the scenes enable confident delivery on site.
Women across operational, technical, and support roles contribute daily to the safe and effective running of projects and facilities. Whether coordinating programmes in live environments, managing commercial frameworks, or driving compliance standards, their impact is tangible.
Culture Matters
Statistics showing that 55% of women feel construction is not always welcoming highlight the importance of culture. Inclusion is shaped by everyday behaviours, such as professional respect on site, clear standards of conduct, appropriate facilities, fair progression frameworks, and transparent performance expectations. Creating an environment where everyone feels able to contribute confidently is fundamental to long-term change.
Looking Forward
Women in Construction Week is both a celebration and a checkpoint. The growth in tradeswomen and increased apprenticeship uptake demonstrates that momentum exists, but leadership representation and site-based visibility show that more progress is needed. For businesses operating in technically demanding and secure environments, strengthening representation is not only the right thing to do, it also strengthens delivery capability.
As an industry, we must continue to make technical and trade pathways visible, support progression into leadership, encourage early career engagement, and challenge outdated perceptions of what construction looks like. The built environment supports society’s most important spaces, and it should be delivered by teams that reflect the communities they serve.
In Their Words
We asked some of our female colleagues to share their experiences working in the built environment. From operational roles to leadership and commercial management, their insights highlight both the challenges women face and the progress being made across the industry. These personal perspectives show how expertise, resilience, and collaboration shape success, no matter the environment or role.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day and Women in Construction Week, it’s clear that progress is being made, but there is still more work to do. By supporting diverse teams, creating clear pathways for women, and fostering inclusive workplaces, we can ensure that talent and capability are what define success in the built environment. At BJF Group, we are proud to champion women across all roles, and we hope that by sharing these stories, more women are inspired to pursue careers in this rewarding and dynamic industry.