Industry opinion: female specialists in ground engineering

Mainmark UK’s Freya Chapman is one of only a few female specialists in British ground engineering – she’s urging the construction sector to consider why this is.

The Office for National Statistics recorded that the percentage of women within construction fell from 15.8% in Q2 2023 to 13.6% in Q2 2024. This correlates with the closure in August 2024 of Women into Construction, an organisation that aimed to promote gender quality in the sector. Its loss has been keenly felt by many.

The industry has faced many challenges in the past few years – not least labour shortages, rising costs and supply chain issues. So it is important that organisations recognise the importance of diversifying job roles, attracting wider pools of talent and keeping momentum up for aspiring women.

There are plenty of roles within construction and allied industries to appeal to a diverse group, including design and planning, trades, quality control, surveying, health and safety, environmental consulting and finance. So why is the sector still failing to attract and nurture female talent?

Say what you see

I believe companies should invest some time in liaising with careers advisors, educating young women and girls on the breadth of vocational career pathways. Education is important, which is why the Mainmark team is passionate about getting out to industry events, sharing our everyday operations and spearheading discussions around best practice. Mainmark itself has a higher than industry average of female employees at 21%.

The company also advocated for my appointment to the executive committee of the Subsidence Forum, 20% of which is now female (this is a collaborative network of organisations and individuals involved with subsidence risk and includes members from across construction and ground excavation). There has been an increase over a decade in female representation across construction, which is great to see. However, there is still some way to go – Women in Construction Week estimates only 16% of senior management positions are held by women.

In the absence of organisations such as Women into Construction, I welcome initiatives such as Women into Home Building. Established in 2023, it aims to encourage more women into construction through training, work experience and employment opportunities. The programme, run by the Home Builders Federation, recently received applications for its fifth cohort of women interested in working in site management.

I began my construction career in ground stabilisation and now lead Mainmark’s residential subsidence solutions teams. As one of only a few female specialists in British ground engineering, I’m urging the construction sector to consider creating diverse, flexible workplace policies. These, in turn, will encourage professional development to support women’s long-term success in the industry.

I’m urging companies everywhere to look at the roles you have available, from apprenticeships to senior roles, and consider how they can be filled by a representative, diverse workforce for the benefit of us all.

Watch the CABE for Women webinar at b.link/YT_CABEIWD

Freya Chapman joined Mainmark in January 2024 with nearly a decade of industry experience. In her role as Residential Lead, she manages the Technical Sale Engineers Team and Customer Service Team.

Image credit | iStock