The Home Builders Federation (HBF) has recruited social enterprise Pathway CTM as the delivery partner for its work experience and training initiative aimed at encouraging women into the home building industry.
Pathway CTM, part of The Learning People Group, will join the Women into Home building programme from the Spring 2025 intake onwards, working in collaboration with HBF and its members to introduce more women to site management careers.
With women making up just 16% of the construction workforce and 4% of existing site managers in the home building industry, the initiative aims to address the constraints of the current talent pipeline and the gender imbalance in the workforce.
Since its launch in January 2023, Women into Home Building has successfully supported 92 candidates through introductory training and hands-on work experience, leading to 23 candidates gaining employment within the industry. The most recent cohort, held in the autumn, marked its most successful intake yet, with a record number of applications received.
With more than 10 years’ experience in supporting diverse talent pipelines into sectors across the economy, Pathway CTM is well positioned to build on the previous years’ success to deliver meaningful change through its extensive networks of career-changing adults and new industry entrants.
Jenny Herdman, Director of the Home Building Skills Partnership at HBF, says: “We are delighted to be working with Pathway CTM as the programme’s new delivery partner.
“Our industry faces a significant skills shortage, and we need to ensure we are attracting a broad range of entrants if we are to meet the growing need for housing."
Chris McNamara, Founder and CEO at Pathway CTM, says: “We are thrilled to partner with HBF and home builders across the UK on this exciting project.
“By leveraging our access to recent education leavers and motivated adults seeking career transitions, we have a unique opportunity to bridge the gap and inspire more women into home building.
“This progressive site management programme is an important initiative and Pathway CTM is ready to support the home building industry’s commitment to addressing the gender imbalance in the workforce.”
Women interested in applying can register their interest for the Spring 2025 cohort. Home builders can find out more about the programme at www.hbf.co.uk/home-building-skills-partnership/women-home-building/.
