Women in construction UK, British building industry family-friendly policies, United Kingdom housebuilding
Women in Construction
3 March 2025
SNG Supports Women To Excel In Construction This International Women’s Day
Jenny Grote, Land and New Business Director (SNG South region):
Lesley Metcalf, Director Development Delivery (SNG West region):
International Women’s Day 2025 is on Saturday 8th March
Women in Construction in 2025
Following a post-Covid boom, when the number of women in the UK construction industry reached a record high of 343,000 (in Q2 2023), the number dropped significantly. By Q2 2024, there were just 272,000 women working in construction in the UK. While that figure has since rallied, hitting 325,000 in Q4 2024, the number of women in construction today is still lower than it was back in 2006.[1]
Some firms are working hard to change this. SNG (Sovereign Network Group) is a case in point. An equal opportunities and disability confident employer, the firm offers different working options with a focus on wellbeing. Family-friendly policies include part-time or flexible working, which allow employees to request working patterns that will work for them and their families.
It’s an approach that has supported employee Jenny Grote to progress to the role of Land and New Business Director for SNG’s South Region. Jenny has worked in construction for 30 years, following in the footsteps of her dad, who worked in the building industry when Jenny was growing up.
“Back then, you didn’t really see women in construction at all,” Jenny recalls. “My dad was a builder and when I started working with him, it was definitely an unusual career choice for a woman. That’s changed a fair bit over the 30 years of my career, but we still have a long way to go.”
Lesley Metcalf, Director Development Delivery for SNG’s West Region, agrees:
“Construction has gone through significant change over the 25 years that I have worked in the sector. It feels like there are a lot of women in the industry now, particularly in development roles. At SNG for example, there are five Development Directors in post across our three regions, and three of these are women. This is reflected across other Housing Associations and PLC developers working in the South West, where a number of Development Directors, Land Directors and Regional Managing Directors are women. There has also been a significant increase in females working on site. We have sites with female Site Managers and Assistant Site Managers – they are still in the minority but it has definitely changed over time. That said, trade roles still seem to be predominately male.”
Working their way up in the sector hasn’t always been easy for Jenny and Lesley. Jenny recalls feeling intimidated in meetings where she was the only woman present, particularly on construction sites, where misogynistic banter and casual sexism were rife. She reveals:
“Is that still the case? Yes and no. Construction sites can still be difficult places to work as a woman. As an employer, SNG is doing much to encourage women into construction but the sector as a whole must do more. We need more women in construction, but we also need to ensure those women are supported appropriately.”
There is much that flexible working can do to support women in construction. Jenny’s own experience is testament to this. She explains:
“Working part-time at SNG has empowered me to be a mother and also grow my skills, earn promotions and move up the career ladder. I’m proud to have achieved those things in tandem.”
Lesley agrees, while also pointing out that the benefits of flexible working don’t only apply to female employees:
“I’m a Mum. My children are 13 and 15. SNG has been fantastic at supporting me in my career and enabling me to progress. I’ve worked different patterns as my children have grown up. If I’d had to work five days a week, 9 to 5, I couldn’t have balanced my career with being there for my children. Flexible working is key to supporting women in the workplace. I have men in my team working flexibly too, sharing parental responsibilities so both they and their partners can work.”
For Jenny, flexible working presents the chance to build a diverse team that delivers real firepower. She comments:
“Diversity brings better decision-making abilities because you have different perspectives and insights. And that leads to better outcomes. Diverse teams are also important for overcoming unconscious bias in recruiting new people. That’s crucial to attracting more women.”
Lesley points out the value of support and encouragement in attracting more women. She explains:
“Support is crucial. To be successful in a senior position you need to progress through the different levels. For example, to be a site manager you may have worked your way up through the trades to understand how sites really work. So, we have to support and encourage women into those trade roles and actively promote career progression. It’s not just about managerial roles; you have to look at the industry as a whole and ensure there are pathways for women to progress. Sometimes that’s about thinking creatively. As Jenny mentioned, it can feel intimidating to be the only female in a meeting or on a site. So employers need to think proactively, for example by grouping female employees and apprentices on their sites. Small changes can make a big difference to how women feel supported in the industry.”
Looking ahead, Jenny will be busy creating exciting new joint ventures and partnerships. A recent contract being a large-scale affordable development of 131 new homes for social rent and Shared Ownership on the Isle of Wight, created in partnership with Captiva Homes, is one of many successful acquisitions for Jenny and her team. Lesley, meanwhile, will be focused on working with her team to deliver a programme of 750 affordable homes next year and is excited to see the major Lotmead joint venture scheme in Swindon where SNG are working in partnership with Vistry start on site. This project includes a community centre, two primary schools, sports facilities and green space, as well as the provision of 2,500 new homes.
“Women need to support each other, in this industry and beyond,” concludes Jenny. “We need to be confident in letting our expertise show and call out those who don’t create diverse, equitable workplaces. Doing so won’t just create more opportunities for women in construction, it will level up the quality of the industry overall.”
SNG supports buyers with an affordable route to homeownership through Shared Ownership at sites across the UK. To find out more, visit https://www.sovereignliving.org.uk/
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[1] https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/timeseries/i4ej/lms
About SNG
SNG (Sovereign Network Group) is one of the largest housing associations, providing over 82,000 homes in areas facing some of the most acute housing need across London and the South of England, with an ambition to build an additional 2,500 homes a year by 2026. It was formed on 1 October 2023 through the bringing together of Sovereign Housing Association and Network Homes.
SNG is a leading builder of affordable homes, including for social rent, and it has a clear pathway to maximise its social and environmental sustainability through its ambitious Homes and Place Standard alongside its planned £100m Community Foundation.
SNG is a member of the G15 group of London’s largest housing associations. The G15 is the collective voice of some of the leading organisations in the housing sector. Its members house one in ten Londoners and are the largest providers of affordable homes in the capital, building a quarter of all London’s new homes, and owning or managing more than 600,000 homes.
Previously on e-architect:
post updated 24 January 2025
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