At Tower Bridge House on 21 October 2025, industry and sport came together in an inspiring show of collaboration. Wates Construction and Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) hosted a thought-provoking roundtable titled Breaking Boundaries – Tackling Gender Misconceptions in Women’s Sport and the Built Environment.
The event brought together senior leaders, elite athletes and advocates from both sectors to explore the shared challenges of gender representation and opportunity, and how collaboration can drive inclusion, visibility and real change. The energy in the room reflected a collective determination to move beyond conversations into concrete action.
Chaired by Dr Carol Massay of Unity for Construction, the discussion began by drawing striking parallels between rugby and construction, both traditionally male-dominated arenas where women continue to challenge stereotypes and carve out their place. Attendees spoke about how the two sectors share similar challenges around representation, opportunity and visibility. They also discussed the shared mindset needed to succeed: going the extra mile, striving for excellence, and having the courage to speak up when things aren’t good enough.
Dr Massay said: “There’s a real shortage of skills in the industry, and progress isn’t confined to the field or the building site. It’s about shared values and creating an environment where people feel they can do their best.”
Genevieve Shore, Executive Chair at Premiership Women’s Rugby, added: “It’s about being brave enough to say, ‘this isn’t good enough’. In rugby so much has changed in just six years, but there are still pockets where people question why women play rugby.” The conversation reinforced that proactive, not passive, change is essential for both sectors to evolve.
A recurring theme throughout the discussion was the importance of allyship and authentic advocacy. Attendees highlighted that true allyship goes beyond statements, it means consistently living organisational values and taking action to create equity.
Steff Battle, Executive Managing Director at Wates Construction, said: “We’re starting to make real changes by implementing processes that help balance the gender split, and by making talent-based assessments when deciding who we promote. We’re also working to change our hiring policies to support men in becoming better allies for women in the built environment sector.”
Participants agreed that fair hiring processes, transparency, and talent-based evaluations are vital to ensuring that women feel confident putting themselves forward for new opportunities, both on the field and in the workplace.
Visibility was another powerful message echoed across the event. Seeing women succeed in leadership, technical and sporting roles inspires others to follow and helps dismantle outdated perceptions. Speakers discussed how public campaigns and social media can amplify women’s achievements, driving visibility in spaces that have historically excluded them.
Emma Wassell, Scottish rugby international, said: “For me, it all started with someone taking an interest and presenting the opportunity – that’s how I got involved in rugby. Having the chance to go into schools and speak to students is so important, because you never know who might be inspired.”
Michaela Wain, Managing Director of Design and Build UK, reflected on her own experiences: “There are endless conversations about women in construction, but for too long there weren’t enough role models or positive stories. You can’t get change without leading by example.”
Confidence and culture were explored as key enablers of progress. Speakers shared personal stories of being discouraged from entering certain roles and the importance of resilience, mentorship, and support networks in overcoming these barriers.
Paula Chandler, National Design Director at Wates and a former rugby player, said: “Anyone who has played rugby or a team sport knows it’s a feeling rather than something you can easily describe. I was actively discouraged from pursuing careers in both rugby and construction, and that only made me more determined to break through those barriers.”
Participants also acknowledged that cultural change must be underpinned by data, systems and sustained effort. Collecting and analysing gender data, designing flexible jobs and creating supportive environments were highlighted as key to retaining and empowering women.
Beth Smythe, HR Business Partner at Wates, said: “We go into schools to challenge the idea that construction is just for men, and we’re constantly working to design jobs flexibly so everyone can thrive.”
Anna Kelly of MACE added: “Advocacy at senior level is crucial, but it must be backed by robust systems and processes. It’s about understanding the challenges and knowing how to support women at every level.”
There was a shared understanding that investment and cohesive messaging are vital to sustaining progress. Attendees praised the Wates–PWR partnership as an example of how collaboration can create lasting impact and help to change narratives around women’s sport and construction.
Genevieve Shore said: “Our partnership with Wates is important because it’s built on integrity, belief and a platform for real impact. Every penny of this partnership is spent breaking open old assumptions and growing the audience for women’s rugby.”
The call to action was clear: change requires sustained investment, shared responsibility, and sector-wide collaboration to make construction, and sport, more welcoming environments for women.
As the event drew to a close, the atmosphere was one of unity and optimism. The group left inspired by the parallels between building teams and constructing skylines, united by the belief that women are not only part of the story but are actively shaping the future of both rugby and the built environment.
Written by: Olivia Needham
