Latest news
Why menopause is a business issue
15 JUNE 2023| By HELEN NORMOYLE
Helen Normoyle is co-founder of My Menopause Centre. To embrace and deliver workforce diversity, the construction industry must urgently offer better menopause support.
Diversity, technology and automation have roles to play in futureproofing engineering firms
08 JUN, 2023| BY MEGAN MILLER
Market conditions in 2023 have not been easy for any industry in light of rapidly changing macroeconomic conditions, including recession, inflation and rising interest rates.
Pride Month marked by sculpture at Mace HQ
02 JUN 2023| BY KERRY LORIMER
Mace is marking Pride Month with a sculpture to promote diversity and inclusion in the construction industry.
Powering diversity in the construction industry
01 JUN, 2023| BY JULIA PYKE
You need only look at a construction site to see that equal gender representation in the industry is a problem - and the stats support this.
Trustee View | New qualifications signal a way to the future
23 MAY 2023| BY ANUSHA SHAH
I previously wrote a piece for NCE in which I asked: “Who is the civil engineer of the future and how does the ICE adapt to embrace them?”
Why the civil engineering industry needs more women fellows
17 MAY, 2023| BY DERVILLA MITCHELL
As designers, engineers, planners, thinkers, we all know that diversity of opinion is critical to solving problems or coming up with the best designs.
Dowding to take the helm at Skanska UK
28 APR 2023| BY BEN VOGEL
Skanska UK has appointed Katy Dowding as its new president and chief executive, effective from 2 May, making her the only woman currently running a tier one contractor.
The engineering profession is too slow in developing a true culture of inclusion
25 APR, 2023| BY LOUISE PARRY
Engineering culture in the UK needs to accelerate its drive to become more inclusive if the UK is to continue to be a key player in the global race for engineering skills.
Use megaproject delays to tackle skills
25 APR 2023| BY JOANNE CONWAY
Joanne Conway is chair of the FM Conway Group. Plenty of ink has been spilled writing about the construction skills crisis but the challenge remains – our industry needs to find a quarter of a million more workers by 2025 according to last year’s Construction Skills Network report.
Big names sign up to Inspiring Women in Construction and Engineering Pledge
17 APR, 2023| BY BELINDA SMART
Leading organisations have signed the Inspiring Women in Construction and Engineering Pledge, a joint initiative between NCE and Construction News, to encourage companies to prioritise equality, diversity and inclusion.
The biggest challenge for construction is the talent drought
13 APR 2023| BY GRAHAM HARLE
Graham Harle is chief executive of Gleeds Worldwide
With soaring inflation and the escalating cost of materials dominating the headlines of late, another issue has been quietly chipping away at the foundation of the UK’s construction sector: an increasing shortage of labour.
New childcare support measures will drive better diversity in construction
11 APR 2023| BY ELIZABETH HARDWICK-SMITH
Elizabeth Hardwick-Smith is group people and culture director at Pick Everard
This year’s Budget centred around getting those who want to work, back to work. With extended childcare support for one-to-two-year-olds being the headline announcement, there is now a great opportunity to tackle one of construction’s biggest challenges – improving diversity.
Gender pay data lays bare construction’s stubborn ‘glass ceiling’ issue
05 APR 2023| BY CATRIN PICTON AND THOMAS JOHNSON
Women occupy, on average, less than 10 per cent of the top-paying jobs at the biggest construction and engineering contractors, according to research by Construction News and sister title New Civil Engineer.
Gender pay gap data reveals clients buck the trend on putting women into top jobs
05 APR, 2023| BY CATRIN PICTON AND THOMAS JOHNSON
Women occupy, on average, almost a third of the top-paying jobs at the biggest construction and engineering clients, according to research by NCE and sister title Construction News.
Glass celling remains a problem for construction
Women occupy, on average, less than 10 per cent of the top-paying jobs at the biggest construction and engineering contractors, according to research by New Civil Engineer and sister title Construction News.
Innovative Thinker | Laing O’Rourke’s Abigail Brierley on the need for female role models in construction
31 MAR, 2023| BY BELINDA SMART
Improving gender diversity in civil engineering depends on role models and school outreach, Abigail Brierley.
Are diversity and inclusion initiatives the answer to construction’s skills gap?
28 MAR 2023| BY EMILY CARR
Emily Carr is design manager at Kier Construction North & Scotland, and former vice-chair of Built Environment – Smarter Transformation’s BE Change Makers
For me, construction isn’t just about building – it’s about ensuring we create spaces for people to thrive. And this philosophy should extend to the people who work in the sector, too.
Editor’s Comment | Why does gender balance matter for the civil engineering sector?
28 MAR, 2023| BY CLAIRE SMITH
In March many businesses in the civil engineering sector marked International Women’s Day with celebrations of their female staff and their career achievements. International Men’s Day is on 19 November, in case you were wondering.
Why PPE designed for women is as much about safety as comfort
28 MAR, 2023| BY THOMAS JOHNSON
Although women have been raising the issue of ill-fitting PPE for decades, the availability of such products remains low.
Flexible working in the construction sector requires flexible thinking
13 MAR, 2023| BY BELINDA SMART
Flexible working in the construction and engineering sector requires an approach that suits individuals’ and business’ needs; and what works for an office based role may not work for operational teams.
Bringing the benefits of gender balance to construction dispute resolution
09 MAR, 2023| BY SUSAN FRANCOMBE
Adjudication is now firmly embedded into construction as a form of dispute resolution, yet there seem to be few women adjudicators. Which leaves me wondering if there is a reason and considering why that needs to change.
Image overhaul needed for engineering careers to achieve gender balance
08 MAR, 2023| BY SUE KERSHAW
Engineering is one of the oldest industries on earth and we’ve marvelled at the people who design and build since the Egyptians and their pyramids. But on the face of it, for those outside of the industry, we haven’t changed much – nor has the view of who pursues such careers.
IWD 2023: Breaking the inner glass ceiling
08 Mar 2023| CONTRIBUTOR
A Q&A for International Women's Day 2023 (IWD 2023) with Nicky Rance, project director at Sir Robert McAlpine
IWD 2023: Four simple rules for successful leadership
08 Mar 2023| Roberta Downey
Roberta Downey is a partner and co-head of the international construction group at Vinson & Elkins LLP in London
As people around the world celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) today, it provides a welcome opportunity to focus on the importance of authentic leadership. Leadership isn’t easy, and it’s not a position you can achieve on your own.
IWD 2023: Apprenticeships are key to encouraging women into the sector
08 Mar 2023| HANNAH MEHR
Hannah Mehr is an apprentice data scientist at Arup and won Apprentice of the Year at the 2022 Association for Consultancy and Engineering awards
IWD 2023: Five things you can do to improve inclusion
08 MAR 2023|CHITHRA MARSH
Chithra Marsh is national chair of Women in Property and associate director of Buttress Architects
While International Women’s Day 2023 (IWD 2023) creates an annual talking point on gender issues, the conversation goes on 365 days a year – or should. And while there are still clear disparities for women working in the construction industry, it is inclusion that is the wider concern.
Women civil engineers sought in bid for gender balance in adjudication
03 MAR 2023 |BY CLAIRE SMITH
The Adjudication Society has launched two initiatives aimed at improving gender balance in adjudication and is calling on female civil engineers to put themselves forward to meet the targets set.
Civil engineering is changing for the better
02 MAR 2023| BY MIKE MCNICHOLAS
Having just marked 40 years with Atkins, I have witnessed many changes in the sector over that time. Among the biggest changes in the industry I’ve seen over the years has been a shift to a more multidisciplinary way of thinking, an evolution towards a multi-system approach.
‘Staggering’ increase needed in girls studying maths or physics to close engineering gender gap
16 FEB 2023| BY ELLA JESSEL
A “staggering” increase in the number of girls studying maths and physics at A level is needed to bridge engineering’s gender gap, a report has found.
Unlocking the potential of apprenticeships
10 FEB 2023| BY BEATRICE BARLEON
As it’s National Apprenticeship Week, it’s an ideal time to take stock of the apprenticeships landscape and reflect on the vital role they play in the engineering and technology sector.
Survey reveals lack of progress on construction diversity
09 FEB 2023| BY BEN VOGEL
Major gaps remain despite small steps on diversity and inclusion in the built environment workforce, according to the results of a new employee survey. The survey from the Sustainability Tool and the Supply Chain Sustainability School’s Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) Programme
Flexible working webinar to kick off 2023 gender equality programme
30 JAN 2023| BY CONTRIBUTOR
Construction professionals are invited to join a free webinar in March on how moving to flexible working will help the sector tackle skills shortages – the first event in the 2023 programme for Inspiring Women in Construction and Engineering.
Why apprenticeships are key to combatting construction labour shortages
19 JAN, 2023| BY CHRISTINE SCOTT
Christine Scott is director of development and construction at Madison Berkeley
A Construction Skills Network report found that the built environment will need around 53,000 extra recruits each year over the next four years to meet projected UK construction demand.
How can firms address counter-inclusion in the engineering sector?
17 JAN, 2023| BY FRAN HOPSON AND SUMAIYAH SARESHWALA
There is clearly work to be done when it comes to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) in the engineering sector.
Hardy joins Travis Perkins board
02 DEC 2022| BY COLIN MARRS Louise Hardy has joined the board of builders merchant Travis Perkins, adding this to a string of non-executive directorships in the industry.
The Met, culture and construction
07 NOVEMBER| BY SARAH SIDEY In the recent interim review into misconduct in the Metropolitan Police, author Baroness Casey identified the need for urgent reform from within the organisation.
How inclusive is STEM and what are the challenges?
02 NOV, 2022| BY SAMANTHA CLARK
A lack of workforce diversity in terms of education currently plagues STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths) industries.
Menopause: Why are we not talking about it?
18 OCT, 2022| BY ROB MELLING
I have heard the menopause be referred to as "the best kept secret", because while 100% of the population are affected by it - either directly or indirectly - there is still such a reluctance to talk about it. Why is that?
Multiple barriers hamper women’s career progression, conference hears
13 OCT 2022| BY THOMAS JOHNSON There are still many barriers to women entering senior positions in the construction and engineering industry, according to leading female figures in the sector, reports Thomas Johnson.
‘Discreet barriers’ still hamper career progression for women in construction and engineering
11 OCT, 2022| BY THOMAS JOHNSON
Many barriers still exist for women to enter senior positions within the construction and engineering industry, according to leading female figures in the sector.
Skanska enhances benefits for employees with kids
29 SEP 2022| BY TIYA THOMAS-ALEXANDER
Skanska has extended its maternity and paternity leave policies, increasing benefits for its workforce.
Industry must improve period care and sanitary waste facilities
27 SEP, 2022| BY LUCY LETTICE
With the engineering and construction professions being challenged to support a petition which calls for better sanitary disposal waste facilities within the industry, it is clear that improvement is crucial for the inclusivity of the sectors.
Willmott Dixon’s Helen White explains how contractors can benefit from flexible working
02 SEP, 2022| ROB HAKIMIAN
Agile working policies can help companies boost employee morale, attract talent and improve gender balance says Willmott Dixon head of reward, policy and systems Helen White.
Over half of young people keen on construction work, study finds
16 AUG 2022| BY LUKE HAYNES
More than half of young people consider a career in construction attractive, research shows.
Inspiring Women pledge hits milestone
21 JUNE 2022 | BY ROB HORGAN
Some 50 construction and engineering firms have committed to improving gender equality in the sector by signing up to the Inspiring Women in Construction and Engineering Pledge.
Skanska pilot will reintegrate workers who take career breaks
30 JUN 2022 | TIYA THOMAS-ALEXANDER
30 JUN Skanska is launching a pilot scheme to provide work opportunities for highly qualified employees who take a career break.
Employers need to attract more women into construction and retain them
29 JUNE 2022 | BY JANE ATKINSON
Many of us have campaigned for years to bring more women into the sector. But, sadly, the improvement has been marginal at best.
Inspiring Women | ‘Immense’ benefits of mentoring explored
07 APR 2022 | BY CATHERINE KENNEDY
The benefits of mentorship have been laid out in an Inspiring Women webinar, jointly hosted by NCE and its sister title Construction News last month.
Balfour Beatty gender pay gap widens
25 MAR 2022 | BY JOSHUA STEIN
The UK’s biggest construction contractor, Balfour Beatty, has revealed that its gender pay gap widened over the last 12 months.
The woman who built diversity into Network Rail’s culture
07 MAR 2022 | BY IAN WEINFASS
Loraine Martins, director of diversity and inclusion at one of the industry’s biggest clients, has spent more than a decade turning round the rail body's reputation on inclusivity. As she prepares to leave Network Rail, she tells Ian Weinfass about the progress she’s made and why there’s still a lot of work to be done.
‘Worth more than pay’ – sector experts debate the benefits of flexible working
24 AUG 2021 | BY LEM BINGLEY
Demand for flexible working has grown in the wake of the pandemic, but does flexibility fit with construction, and can it ease the sector’s gender balance and skills issues? Lem Bingley reports from a recent CN roundtable.
INWED 21 | Narrative change needed to tackle the gender imbalance in engineering
23 JUN 2021 | BY JENNIFER GLENISTER
Talking about the negatives around women in engineering could deter young girls and women from pursuing the industry before they’ve even tried any engineering discipline. As the industry celebrates International Women in Engineering Day today, I think this is an issue the civil engineering industry needs to be more mindful about.
Boardroom diversity: the value of dissenting voices
23 MAR 2021 | BY MARGO COLE
It is well established that companies with diverse leadership teams generate higher returns, and that the construction industry has a long way to go on this front. Margo Cole explores the potential for diversity to boost your business.
The power of evolution: how you benefit from a greater gender balance
03 DEC 2020 | BY DAVID PRICE
Construction News held a panel discussion as part of our Inspiring Women in Construction initiative to explore how firms must evolve to benefit from having more women in their businesses.
Lockdown gains: how the pandemic has helped women excel
29 SEP 2020 | BY MEGAN KELLY
‘Culture, careers and recruitment’ are key, and enable women to climb the construction industry ladder. As many firms encourage women to join their businesses, CN’s webinar asks how do we continue to do this in a pandemic which seems to be making regular routines a thing of the past?
Encouraging more women into hydrography is crucial to achieving a clean future
11 SEP, 2023 - BY AMY MASSEY
With GCSE and A-level results having recently made their way into the hands of eager and ambitious students across the country, it’s a time when many are considering their next steps.
Innovative Thinker | Pay transparency key to closing gender pay gap says academic
31 AUG, 2023 - BY SOTIRIS KANARIS
The construction industry’s gender pay gap will not be bridged organically, says Jennifer Tomlinson.
Could net zero be the key to unlocking engineering diversity?
20 JUL, 2023 - BY HANNAH KISSICK
Sometimes, you read the newspapers and the net zero goal seems like an unachievable pipe dream. Then, you spend a morning with people who are doing exactly what is needed every single day to work towards a more sustainable future and your hope is restored.
11 civil engineers secure places on the 2023 Top 50 Women in Engineering list
23 JUN, 2023 - BY THOMAS JOHNSON
The Women's Engineering Society (WES), which organises International Women in Engineering Day (Inwed), has marked the 10th anniversary of the day of celebrating female engineers by revealing that 11 civil engineers have made the 2023 Top 50 Women in Engineering (WE50) list.
Arcadis, Atkins, Mott MacDonald and Skanksa top the Inspiring Women Awards shortlist
23 JUN, 2023 - BY CLAIRE SMITH
After receiving a record-breaking number of entries, the judges for the Inspiring Women in Construction and Engineering Awards have carefully reviewed them all and today revealed the shortlist.
INWED | Progress being made with women’s PPE but discussion still needed to raise awareness
23 JUN, 2023 - BY THOMAS JOHNSON
In March, NCE ran a story discussing how personal protection equipment (PPE) for women in the engineering and construction sectors is lacking even though discussion about the need has been underway for decades.
INWED | NCE’s female Grad and Apprentice Award winners discuss how to bring more women into engineering
23 JUN, 2023 - BY ROB HAKIMIAN
To mark International Women In Engineering Day (Inwed), NCE has sought the views of the female winners from last year's Graduate and Apprentice Awards winners on how the sector can do more to attract women into the industry.
INWED | NCE’s most read interviews and opinion pieces from female contributors
23 JUN, 2023 - BY CLAIRE SMITH
To celebrate this year’s International Women in Engineering Day, the NCE editorial team has looked back over news, interviews and opinions from the last year to create a list of the most popular article either written by women or featuring female industry leaders.
Female industry specialists invited to join NCE’s New Voices list
23 JUN, 2023 - BY CLAIRE SMITH
Putting female role models in the spotlight is a key part of today’s International Women in Engineering Day, which is now an annual event, and NCE is relaunching an initiative to ensure women remain in that spotlight throughout the year.
Mentoring has real power to make a difference on gender diversity in construction
23 JUN, 2023 - BY KELLY COLE
Just over 16% of all engineers in the UK are women. While the number of those working in engineering occupations is rising year on year, latest figures from Engineering UK show there’s still a way to go, with less than 18% of higher apprenticeship places in engineering and manufacturing, being taken up by women.