The work experience, training and insight programme has been designed to attract more women into Site Management

The Home Builders Federation (HBF) and Women into Construction have launched the latest home building training and work placement programme aimed at attracting more women into Site Management careers.

Currently, women account for just 4% of existing Site Managers. The Women into Home Building programme has been developed in partnership with nine national home builders to help address this gender imbalance in the workforce.

The scheme will offer participants first-hand experience of the Site Manager role and how they could help industry deliver much-needed homes.

Successful candidates will take part in a week of fully-funded online insight and development sessions, attend a two-week Site Management work placement on a local home building site and receive 1-2-1 career coaching and support from Women into Construction

The scheme has already been delivered across the country twice this year, with 25 women having completed the programme and almost 100 engaged in insight sessions as part of their journey into the industry.

Details of the next programme taking place in November this year have been released today, including work placement opportunities in Birmingham, Cambridgeshire, Derby, East Sussex, Gloucester, Hampshire, Leicester, London, North Yorkshire, Nottingham, Oxford, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Worcester.

Women interested in taking part in the programme can attend an information session on 17th October, ahead of the application deadline at 5pm on 18th October. To register for the event and apply for the programme, visit the Women into Construction website.

Jenny Herdman, Director for HBF’s Home Building Skills Partnership, says: "Attracting a broad range of entrants into the industry is vital if we’re to deliver the homes the country needs.

“We’re delighted to be working with Women into Construction and national home builders to deliver a programme that creates a route for women to explore rewarding careers in the industry.”

Jacqui Wordsworth, Women into Construction's Business Development Director, says: “With women representing just 4% of Site Managers, we want to inspire and encourage more women to take up a career in home building – helping us and our employer partners to change the face of construction.”

Mbalose Irene Masiye-Mkymba, who joined one of the programme’s earlier cohorts, says: “It's a great programme. I hope more women get the opportunity to have an insight into Site Management roles and other roles which can be so hard for women to access through traditional work placement schemes”.