While the United States begins pulling back from its commitment to diversity and inclusion under the Trump administration, including the recent removal of DEI policies from federal agencies and the closure of several equity-focused programmes, but the UK construction sector is facing a different kind of challenge. We’re not retreating from inclusion. We’re in a national skills crisis. And the only way out is to widen, not narrow, the talent pool.
Despite years of progress, the UK continues to lose thousands of talented women in their early 40s across construction and related industries. This drop-off is linked to multiple, persistent challenges: unequal pay, limited access to senior roles, lack of workplace flexibility, and cultures that fail to support work-life balance. Women who have spent two decades building careers are too often pushed out just as they reach their peak in terms of experience and potential. This isn’t just a loss for them, it’s a loss for the entire industry.
We know the statistics: women make up less than 16% of the UK construction workforce, and an even smaller proportion are represented in senior, technical, or site-based roles. With retirement rates rising and apprenticeships struggling to meet demand, we cannot afford to overlook the value of retaining and progressing mid-career talent. And yet, industry exit rates among women remain high.
The signs of stress are everywhere. More than half of workers in construction say they don’t believe they’re doing their best work. That figure isn’t about competence – it’s about culture. Leadership that fails to engage, develop, and support diverse teams will inevitably miss out on productivity, innovation, and retention.
While high-profile decisions in the US signal a rejection of DEI as a priority, UK construction companies are increasingly doing the opposite. Forward-thinking businesses are implementing flexible work policies, providing unconscious bias training, and committing to clearer progression pathways. But even these actions don’t go far enough without leadership that understands the barriers and knows how to break them.
That’s why Women in Construction: The Power Within HER is championing the Leading with Motivational Intelligence Executive Diploma – a practical, accredited programme designed to equip managers and emerging leaders with the skills they need to lead more inclusively, more effectively, and more confidently.
The course, delivered in partnership with The Power Within Training and accredited by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), addresses the hidden roadblocks that limit individual and team performance. From low morale and siloed working to poor change adoption and high staff turnover, it focuses on the issues that stall productivity and undermine growth and provides tools to overcome them.
Modules cover a broad range of leadership topics, including vision setting, coaching and mentoring, leading through transition, and creating high-trust team cultures. It’s built for flexibility, with live Zoom sessions, modular online content, and round-the-clock access to expert mentoring. Learners benefit from direct feedback, peer discussions, and real-time development strategies that can be applied in any workplace.
This course isn’t theoretical. It’s already being used by leading construction firms across the UK. From Tier 1 contractors to SMEs, it’s helping teams become more resilient, more engaged, and more aligned – not just to business goals, but to each other.
It also reflects the needs of an evolving workforce. With increased demand for emotional intelligence, adaptive leadership, and inclusive thinking, the course offers a competitive edge in a tight labour market. It helps organisations attract and retain talent by fostering an environment where people feel seen, supported and able to succeed.
The programme is eligible for full CITB funding, including through the Skills and Training Fund (for SMEs) and the Leadership & Management Development Fund (for larger organisations). The Women in Construction: The Power Within HER team provides full support for businesses looking to access funding and enrol their teams.
The UK has a choice. We can step back like others have -or we can step forward with confidence. The conditions are right. The investment is coming. But only with inclusive, empowered leadership will the workforce be ready.
Now is the time to lead differently.
