untypical is continuing its support for the HBF’s Women into Home Building (WiHB) programme, now offering placements across developments in the South West, East Midlands and East of England.
The aim of the programme is to help more women discover rewarding careers within the homebuilding industry. The placements provide participating women with training, industry insight and hands-on experience designed to introduce them to the breadth of the industry’s career opportunities.
This year, untypical is supporting the programme with placements at Wixams in Bedfordshire, The Elms at Woolpit, Delapre Point in Northampton and Brook Manor in Exeter.
Women into Home Building was launched in 2023 and is delivered by Pathway CTM, funded by participating homebuilders (some 26 companies to date) and supported by the NHBC, which provides travel and childcare sponsorship
Over a spell of three weeks, participants complete a week of online training and industry insight followed by a two-week placement on a participating housebuilder’s site, providing valuable exposure to the day-to-day realities of working in the industry.
Since its launch, more than 400 women have received support, career advice and exposure to roles in homebuilding. More than 215 women have completed industry insight training and work experience, while over 60 women have subsequently secured employment within the sector.
For untypical, the impact of the programme is already being seen within its own team.
Claire Follows first joined the industry through the Women into Home Building programme and has since gone on to build her career with the business. Today, she is a trainee assistant site manager in untypical’s Eastern region, demonstrating how an initial opportunity to experience working on site can develop into a long-term career.
She said: “Women into House Building talked to me about transferable skills, which was one of the best things. I had taken time out to care for my children and am a single mum, but WiHB empowered me as much as I empowered myself. I have come to realise that there are literally people from all walks of life working on site.”
Amelia Maydom, head of learning & development at untypical, said: “We’re proud to continue supporting Women into Home Building and to provide opportunities for more women to experience first-hand what a career in our industry can offer.
“There is a huge variety of roles and career paths within homebuilding, but we know that people don’t always have the opportunity to see that for themselves. Providing practical experience on our developments can help break down those barriers and give participants the confidence and knowledge to consider a career in the sector.
“Claire’s progression is a fantastic example of what this programme can achieve. Her journey from taking part in Women into Home Building to becoming a trainee assistant site manager shows why initiatives like this matter, and we hope to welcome many more women into the industry through this year’s programme.”
