Annie Clift
London Regional Chair, National Association of Women in Construction
Women comprise 15% of the UK construction workforce, with only 1% in manual roles.1 Despite challenges, the women in the industry find it inspiring and fulfilling.
The National Association of Women in Construction exists to empower women in the construction industry. Founded in Texas, USA in 1953,2 chapters now exist across the world. In the UK,3 our mission is to increase the number of women joining the construction industry and continuously support women in construction, so their careers may flourish.
Starting early through education and representation
We need to educate girls on the pathways and opportunities available to them. Not only girls, but parents, teachers and careers advisors. One way of doing this is through our collaboration with architectural photographer Morley Von Sternberg’s ‘The Image of Women in Construction.’ This project aims to highlight the diversity of roles held by women in the industry. We hope it will inspire the next generation to see themselves as potential construction professionals in the future. As they say, you can’t be what you can’t see.
We need to educate girls on the pathways
and opportunities available to them.
Retention is a major issue
As companies do more to attract women, we must be doing more to help them have long, fulfilling careers. Only 38% of women have ever had a female manager.4 Once in the industry, women need support to allow their careers to flourish. NAWIC provides training on the skills needed to thrive in business, from overcoming the imposter system, understanding employment rights and negotiating pay rises (vital in an industry that has a 27% gender pay gap5).
With the RICS predicting a deficit of 250,000 construction workers by 2028,6 there has never been a more important time to empower women and girls to enter the industry. A career in construction allows you to play a part in shaping the world we live in — what could be more empowering than that?
[1] theaccessgroup.com/en-gb/blog/con-women-in-construction
[2] austinnawic.org/History_of_NAWIC
[3] nawic.co.uk/about
[4] theaccessgroup.com/en-gb/blog/con-women-in-construction
[5] ciobpeople.com/gender-pay-gap-biggest-construction-firms-make-slow-but-steady-progress/
[6] building.co.uk/news/new-rics-president-warns-skills-shortage-could-derail-starmers-housebuilding-plans/5133585.article
