What is Women in Construction Week? 

A week dedicated to supporting women in construction and trades roles

The construction industry has one of the widest gender divides in the UK. One study found that only 10% of workers in the construction industry are women, with 86.7% of them in office positions and only 2.5% working as tradespeople. 

When we say tradespeople, you might think of female labourers wearing hard hats. Construction sites are not the only place where women in construction face a bleak gender divide. Female plumbers, female electricians, and female gas engineers also deserve recognition. 

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When is Women in Construction Week? 

In 2023, Women in Construction Week runs from March 5th to March 11th. Every year, it takes place in the first week of March. 

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The History of Women in Construction Week

Like many feminist adjacent causes, Women in Construction Week was founded by a group of women who hoped to change the inequality that they experienced. 16 women who worked in construction and understood the unique difficulties of being a woman in a male-dominated industry created Women in Construction of Fort Worth, which was later renamed. The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) was founded in 1953, and Women in Construction Week was established in 1960. 

The NAWIC has 120 chapters and over 4,000 members. This organisation highlights the role of women in construction and encourages women to consider themselves in highly-skilled trades careers. Women in Construction Week is a reflection of this effort, and it also aims to bring awareness to the issue as a whole. 

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Celebrating Women in Construction Week 

Celebrating women in construction and trades jobs doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are a few things you can do to support the cause. 

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Uphold a Zero-Tolerance Approach to Sexism

A zero-tolerance approach to sexism is important for every industry, but it is especially impactful in the construction industry. 

If you work in a team environment, make sure to challenge sexist comments. You can do this face-to-face, or by reporting the individual to your superior. 

You can also challenge the idea that women can’t work in labour-intensive jobs by pointing to TaskHer, the online platform that exclusively works with female plumbers, female electricians, and female gas engineers. 

Read more about TaskHer here. 

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Use the Hashtag

Whether you are part of the construction industry or not, you can spark conversations by using the hashtag #WomeninConstructionWeek. This might seem like a small way to celebrate national Women in Construction Week, but it can be one of the biggest steps that you take. The representation of women in construction and trades jobs is so skewed that very few people are even aware of the issue. By using the hashtag, you can highlight the problem to everyone on your friend list. 

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Invest in Your Career 

In celebration of national Women in Construction Week, lots of construction adjacent organisations promote their female-focused programs. This is the perfect time to break into the construction industry and begin working towards your dream career. 

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Women in BIM (WIB) Mentor Scheme 

Women in BIM’s Mentor Scheme is open for applications! 

This mentoring scheme gives women the structures and information necessary to enter building information modelling (BIM) and digital construction-related roles. Candidates will be matched with an experienced mentor who can give them first-hand advice. Women in BIM attempt to match people to mentees who have relevant experience. 

The scheme lasts for six to nine months. 

The closing data for mentee applications is the 3rd of March, but mentors can still fill out an application here. Becoming a mentor is a great way to expand your professional network and shape the future of woman in construction. 

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Women Into Construction (WIC) Heat & Power Employment Programme

Women into Construction has partnered with North London Heat and Power, Bryne Bros, Iron Hill Global and more to create a programme centered around heating and power. Unemployed women who live in the London Boroughs of Enfield, Waltham Forest, Hackney, Islington, Camden, Haringey, and Barnet are eligible for this five-week employment course. 

The course includes: 

• Construction training with CONEL
• CSCS card training
• 2-week work placement 
• 1-2-1 support 

For the work placement part of the course, you could be working as an Engineering Assistant, Trainee Quantity Surveyor, Site Supervisor, and more! 

Register to attend the information season on Tuesday 7th March to learn more. 

Women into Construction also has an employment programme in the pipeline for unemployed women in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, which you can learn more about on the Programme page.  

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Employ Female Tradespeople 

One of the best things you can do to support women in construction is to employ them! If you have a leaky tap, call a female plumber. Likewise, if you have faulty wiring in your home, call a female electrician to take a look. 

At TaskHer, we champion women in trades. No matter what problem you need solving, you can rely on us to find an experienced female plumber, electrician, or gas heating engineer. 

‍Start your search.