Connect, Grow, Lead: meet BuildHer Ambition

NASC member Midland Scaffolding Services is on the steering group of BuildHer Ambition, a new industry network set up to champion women in construction and to bring awareness to the fulfilling and varied careers available within the industry, including scaffolding.

Connect, Grow, Lead is the network’s strapline, and it was established in response to a specific problem: while there has been gradual progress in attracting more women into construction, representation remains low in exactly the roles where the industry’s national skills shortages are greatest.

The numbers

The Office for National Statistics data shows women made up 14.7% of the UK construction workforce in Q3 2024, around 303,000 women compared with 1.76 million men. That rose slightly to 15.2% by the end of 2024, continuing a positive trend from around 270,000 women employed in construction in 2014.

Steady progress, but the figures also show a significant imbalance. Most women in construction work in professional, design, administrative and managerial positions. Only around 1 to 2% are employed in manual, site-based or skilled trades roles, despite these being the areas experiencing some of the most significant labour shortages.

Where the idea came from

BuildHer Ambition grew out of discussions during a ‘Women in Construction Week’ Event in 2026,  hosted by SDC builders, which brought together colleagues alongside architects, project managers, consultants and delivery partners to share their experiences and talk about what more could be done.

One message emerged consistently: people cannot aspire to careers they cannot see.

Participants spoke about the importance of visible female role models across all disciplines, not only in leadership but on construction sites, in engineering, project management, surveying, commercial roles, design and the skilled trades.

The discussions also recognised that many of today’s barriers are cultural rather than procedural. Organisations have made significant progress on inclusive policies and PPE, but unconscious bias, outdated perceptions and a lack of visible representation continue to influence career choices and progression.

What the network is for

BuildHer Ambition has three objectives:

• To actively promote construction as an attractive and viable career path for women and girls.

• To address gender imbalance by increasing awareness, access and opportunity and to provide a network offering mentorship, support and career development.

• It is intended to represent the wider construction industry rather than any single organisation. And while it is focused on improving opportunities for women, it actively welcomes the support of mentors, advocates and champions of all genders.

What happens next

A steering group has been established with representatives from SDC Builders, the University of Cambridge, Munro Building Services, Demcom and Midland Scaffolding Services.

A key priority is strengthening engagement with schools and young people, working with education providers on a structured programme of outreach. Planned activities include careers talks, school assemblies, careers fairs and interactive workshops showcasing the range of professions in the industry, from site management, engineering and surveying through to architecture, design, project management and the skilled trades.

For women already working in the industry, the network will develop a programme of networking opportunities including coffee mornings, site visits and industry insight presentations.

BuildHer Ambition officially launched on Wednesday 9 September at Homerton College, Cambridge. Speaking at the launch, Bernadette Conroy, Chair of the Board of the Regulator of Social Housing, said: “Half the population are female and yet we are significantly underrepresented in this industry.”

Amie Bailey, Commercial Director at Midland Scaffolding Services, commented: “BuildHer Ambition is about opening doors, challenging perceptions and showing young women and girls that there is a place for them in construction. There are so many incredible opportunities within our industry, but we need to do more to make sure the next generation knows they exist. It's not just about encouraging more women into construction, it's about giving them the confidence, support and opportunities to build successful careers’’

“Real change won't happen through one organisation alone. It takes the wider industry coming together and having the support of organisations like the NASC is incredibly important in helping us reach more people and make a lasting difference.”