The Home Builders Federation has launched its sixth cohort of the Women into Home Building programme, offering its largest number of opportunities yet.
Delivered in partnership with 11 housebuilders, this spring 2025 programme will provide 38 training, support, and work placements, marking a significant expansion from previous years. Participating developers include Anwyl Homes, Bargate Homes, Bellway, Gleeson, Hill Group, Hopkins Homes, Keepmoat, Places for People, Taylor Wimpey, Tilia Homes and Vistry Group.
With women currently accounting for just 16% of the construction workforce and only 4% of site managers, the programme plays a crucial role in addressing the sector’s gender imbalance while helping to tackle the industry’s ongoing skills shortage.
The previous intake secured the programme’s highest number of applicants and housebuilders will be offering more placements than ever before in this latest round of applications.
Since its inception, the Women into Home Building programme has successfully guided 92 participants through training and work experience and supported 26 candidates into employment within the home building industry.
The fully funded three-week programme will provide high-quality training, industry insight and practical experience as a trainee site manager on home building sites from Glasgow to Dorset.
The programme will be sponsored by NHBC to continue to offer candidates support with travel and childcare costs, tackling a common barrier in gaining access to work experience. It will also be supported by its new delivery partner, Pathway CTM, for the first time.
Neil Jefferson, chief executive at HBF, said: “Building the talent pipeline and growing the industry’s workforce is critical to increasing housing supply numbers at the levels required. The Women into Home Building programme helps to introduce more prospective talent to the rewarding careers available within the industry and offers valuable training to strengthen the industry’s future talent pipeline.”
“We are proud to collaborate with our members once again to deliver this programme at a larger scale than ever before.”
Chris McNamara, founder and CEO at Pathway CTM, said: “We are excited to share this important initiative with recent education leavers and women seeking career transitions.”
“Site management is a rewarding career opportunity and Pathway CTM is ready to support the home building industry in attracting candidates to the Women into Home Building programme.”
