By Meg Lee, Employment and Training Manager for Women and Manual Trades (WaMT)

This year’s International Women’s Day theme, ‘Give to Gain’, feels incredibly relevant to the work we do every day at Women and Manual Trades.

It’s about investing time, belief, and support in the women themselves. This means working collaboratively with partners and employers to open doors and sharing opportunities and networks to create different pathways into employment.

When we “give”, we are giving access to work placements, mentors, and industry exposure. But the gain isn’t one-sided. Women gain access to new careers and skills development. Employers gain stronger, inclusive teams. Over time, the wider sector gains a resilient talent pipeline with sustained retention rates. When women progress into these organisations, the organisations progress with them.

Everything we do at WaMT is built around partnerships. We speak with employers about work placements and job opportunities, and we work with training providers to make sure the right skills support is in place. More importantly, we reach out to the women themselves to understand their ambitions and help connect this with real opportunities.

A huge part of WaMT’s work centres on exposure. For example, our 3:2 initiative combines three days of study with two days of paid practical experience for women enrolled on college construction courses. Sometimes, just stepping onto a site and seeing other women already there can make a real difference. This helps them to strengthen their technical skills while also building confidence and growing a sense of belonging in a traditionally male-led industry.

This is why structured, ongoing support matters so much. Our work doesn’t stop once someone secures a job. We provide wraparound care, often for at least six months after they start employment. I’ve had apprentices ring me because they’re unhappy or they’re unsure about how they can raise a matter with their employer.

Being that bridge in the early stages makes all the difference. Over time, they grow into that confidence themselves, but knowing someone is in their corner – especially for the first few months – can be what keeps them in the industry.

There is still more the sector could “give” to remove barriers for women entering trade roles. It’s making sure workplaces and recruitment processes are truly inclusive. Some women in manual trades now focus solely on recruiting other women, often because the existing processes may not be right and the system can feel archaic and inconsistent in places. This is an area where the sector has the opportunity and responsibility to continue improving.

For businesses wondering what meaningful action looks like, start with commitment. Commit to supported placements and commit to mentoring. Provide clear progression routes so women can see where their career could lead. Ensure that worksites are safe and respectful from day one. Use your influence and knowledge, particularly at senior leadership levels, to remove the barriers women face, especially given that women have not always felt a sense of belonging in the sector.

On a personal level, this work means a great deal to me. I came into this role after 12 years in the military and three years in the prison service – environments which predominantly male workforces. When making the change to civilian life, I needed that extra support and access to opportunities. Now I’m in a position to offer that same support to other women entering a sector where they remain underrepresented, which feels like a full-circle moment I don’t take for granted.

The moments I’m most proud of are often the simplest ones – picking up the phone to tell someone they’ve got the job. Hearing the disbelief turn into excitement. Watching confidence grow over time. Seeing employers recognise the value these women bring to their teams.

Looking ahead, at WaMT we want to continue strengthening partnerships and build a clearer national pathway into skilled, sustainable employment for women. Currently, just 15% of the UK’s construction industry is made up of women, with fewer than 2% working in manual trade roles*. Through our work with Procure Plus, women currently make up around 5.6% in manual trade roles, but we’d like to see this level of representation increase and become standard across the industry as a whole.

International Women’s Day is one day a year dedicated to supporting women, but employers and leaders must be genuinely committed to providing employment opportunities and consistent support for the other 364 days. Support must be sustained, not tokenistic.

For women who are considering a new start in the manual trades, I’d strongly encourage you to go for it. You don’t have to have your career pathway planned out or know exactly how to get there. There are initiatives, support networks, and people to help you get where you want to be.

Women and Manual Trades, part of Procure Plus’s subsidiary charity, aims to make women the norm rather than the exception within construction and the building trades.

For more information about WaMT, visit https://wamt.procure-plus.com/ or contact Meg Lee at [email protected].