Founded in 2021, we are a social enterprise and globally connected community that supports young women in the construction industry and built environment sector as a whole. We’re not just imagining a future of confident, skilled and able female leaders—we’re building them.
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Our Mission - Turning Dreams & Aspirations into Reality.
Our mission is to empower young women aged 16–25 from low Social, Economic & Leadership backgrounds to rise as confident leaders in the construction industry — building not just careers, but legacy. We provide various Social Value activities as part of our ACCESS4HER campaign + practical resources as tools to construct their lives. Our work overall increases the number of young girls being enlightened about the sector and the number of young women from low social & ethnic backgrounds entering careers areas across it.
Our priorities: leadership, community empowerment, upskilling & employment access.
In this Era, young women cannot aspire to become something if they're not inspired.
For an industry that has a great economic, social and environmental impact on towns + cities everywhere, it is still misunderstood and misinterpreted by young people, especially young women. ​​Over the last 4 years, we’ve been tackling this challenge alongside another critical social challenge for young girls: the unsettling underrepresentation of women in the UK construction and built environment sector. In 2021 when we launched Girls Under Construction, the industry was slowly recovering from the COVID pandemic and women made up 13–14% of the whole UK construction workforce. In 2022 - 2023, women made up roughly 14–16%, however this declined to 13.6% in early 2024.
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Now in 2025, the imbalance remains stark. In a UK workforce of approximately 2.06million people, women make up approximately 15% of it. Only 1% work in skilled trades and leadership roles held by women are in single digits. This gap matters deeply to us. The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) reports a 67% rise in females starting construction apprenticeships between 2018–19 and 2023–24, with completions soaring by 170%. Despite this, there are still systemic barriers such as the education system. Too often, schools present construction careers in limited, outdated ways — overlooking digital, sustainability, regulation, quality and operational roles. Career advisors frequently reinforce stereotypes, steering girls toward “traditional” paths, while schools struggle to offer construction-focused work experience or industry exposure.
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Between 2025-29, as the UK industry expects growth in major sectors - such as Infrastructure, Public New Housing, Private New Housing - Girls Under Construction continues to address these needs for young women in the UK and other regions we have reach to (Africa, Europe, and Asia):
Awareness of Careers showcasing the wide range of current and future-ready roles, from Net Zero and green jobs to the rapidly expanding field of digital construction.
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Representation and Visibility showcasing women in the industry as relatable role models, reflecting diversity in aspiration, race, and social background.
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Access and Industry Exposure through Social Value initiatives, programmes, bootcamps and other outreach activities that open doors to real opportunities.
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"Most of my passion stems from the absence of a tangible role model from secondary school through to university. Although I was self-motivated to join the industry due to my interest, along the way I lacked the external inspiration, guidance, and relatable examples that I could look up to within the Industry.
My personal challenges and barriers were just an avenue to create something greater that will be a guiding light for a new Generation of Young Women into Construction."
Barbara Akinkunmi
Founder, CEO
​​Our Impact...
400+ girls inspired through school workshops.
Opening minds to the range of career opportunities in construction and beyond, giving young women the confidence to make bold, informed choices about their future.
550+ young women empowered through Social Value activities.
Participants have progressed into placements and training with leading firms in project management, engineering, and consulting — taking real steps toward becoming the next generation of industry leaders.
800+ Global Network built & still building.
A community across the UK, Africa, Europe, and Asia — amplifying voices, sharing knowledge, and creating a pipeline of global talent.
8,740+ Strong Digital following.
Engaging young people where they are — on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok — with educational and inspiring content that keeps the conversation alive and accessible. Our presence online enables us to reach, inspire, and connect young women far beyond our immediate UK network, giving us a strong foundation for Global influence and impact.
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​​...& we're just getting started ! We promise to ensure no girl ever feels alone, unseen, or unprepared in her journey to build the future — because every girl deserves to lead, shape, and rise in the Construction Industry.