Paul Brothwood | Promoting More Women in Construction

Paul Brothwood believes the construction industry will be stronger when it attracts and retains more women in technical, operational and leadership roles. Throughout my career I have seen how diverse teams improve collaboration, decision-making and innovation, while helping organisations build a stronger pipeline of future talent.

I believe diversity is a strength. It brings fresh ideas and solutions, which are essential in a sector that values problem-solving. To achieve this, we've changed our recruitment processes to encourage gender diversity and inclusivity.

Reviewing our recruitment practices

One of the first steps we took was to redesign our recruitment process to make it more accessible and appealing to women. Historically, job descriptions in construction have used language that may not attract female candidates. To address this, we revised all job postings to use gender-neutral language and focused on skills, attitude, and potential rather than experience in a traditionally male environment.

We've also eliminated the need for CVs. We know that while women may not always have direct industry experience, they often have transferable skills that are valuable to our teams. By creating an open recruitment process, we allow applicants to show their abilities through competency-based assessments instead of relying solely on past roles. This has led to a more diverse pool of applicants, many of whom are women, bringing fresh perspectives to challenges.

Developing a supportive and inclusive environment

Beyond recruitment, encouraging more women into construction means creating an environment where they can thrive. We've worked hard to build an inclusive culture across our work sites and offices. This includes training all employees on the value of diversity and inclusion. Our goal is to ensure that women feel supported, respected, and empowered to advance their careers here.

To further support our female employees, we've implemented flexible working arrangements where possible, understanding the importance of work-life balance, especially for those with family responsibilities. We also provide comprehensive health and safety training for everyone, focusing on creating safe and supportive work environments.

Looking forward

Creating opportunities for more women in construction is not simply about representation. It is about building stronger teams, widening the talent pool and improving the long-term performance of an industry facing significant skills shortages.

Our goal is not just to fill positions but to inspire a new generation of female professionals in scaffolding, roofing, and other construction fields. We're committed to refining our recruitment processes, providing the necessary support, and advocating for industry change.

We're proud of our progress, but there's still much work to be done. We encourage other construction companies to review their practices and find ways to increase female participation. Together, we can create a more inclusive future for the construction industry—one where everyone can thrive and lead.

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About Paul Brothwood

Paul Brothwood is an Operations Manager at National Grid Electricity Distribution and a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv). He writes about leadership, operational excellence, sustainability, project management and continuous improvement, drawing on experience across the utilities, construction and financial services sectors.