North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has praised the growing number of women pursuing careers in the construction industry following a site visit to Bellway’s Centurion Chase development in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear. The Mayor met with female employees working across Bellway’s North East and Durham divisions, highlighting the importance of an inclusive workforce in meeting housing targets and driving forward the delivery of sustainable homes in the region.
Supporting women in construction careers
During the visit, the Mayor toured the 215-home Centurion Chase housing development, viewing the showhome and Bellway’s innovative House to Home property, which provides buyers with a unique insight into the internal construction methods and sustainable features of a new-build home.
She also met women working on the frontline of construction, including trainee assistant site manager Sophie Curtis, who joined Bellway in 2021 as an apprentice bricklayer. Sophie was named Bellway’s Apprentice of the Year and now works at the Hedworths Green at Lambton Park development near Chester-le-Street.
Another rising talent, trainee assistant site manager Natalie Hammond, also shared her career journey. Natalie joined Bellway after completing a two-week work placement through the Home Builders Federation (HBF) Women into Home Building programme, having previously worked in the hospitality industry.
The Mayor also spoke to Terri McGuire, the first female assistant site manager for Bellway North East, who successfully transitioned from a customer service role into site management.
Mayor McGuinness said: “It’s been brilliant to see women making their careers in construction. There are still more men than women working in the industry but seeing women making the choice to work in frontline construction roles, managing sites, taking on apprenticeships and learning construction skills is fantastic. These women are leading the way.
“I was impressed to see that at Bellway women now account for more than 30 per cent of the workforce and this is growing.”
Building skills for a sustainable future
The Mayor emphasised that attracting and retaining a skilled workforce is vital if the region is to meet both national housing delivery targets and North East housing needs.
“We have steep housing targets for the North East and nationally, and they must be met in the next few years. This is vital because there are so many people in need of good quality homes. But to deliver that we need a skilled and sizeable workforce within the construction industry, so an inclusive approach is important.
“And for a sustainable future we need modern methods of construction (MMC) so that energy-efficient homes can be built quickly and to a high standard. A thriving construction industry is essential to this region. It will help to set up the North East for a successful future.”
Bellway’s commitment to diversity and innovation
Emma Chesterton, Sales Director for Bellway North East, reinforced the housebuilder’s commitment to supporting women across its workforce: “We have highly skilled and motivated women working for us throughout the business including on our construction sites.
“Our involvement with the Women into Home Building programme has allowed us to nurture talent and provide opportunities that benefit women and benefit our business.
“It’s all part of creating a resilient and thriving industry. The benefits are far reaching, not just in terms of housing delivery but also in economic growth and job creation.
“It was a pleasure to welcome Kim to Centurion Chase, and I would like to thank her for the keen interest she has shown regarding the homebuilding industry and its impact on the region.”
Encouraging more women into the construction sector
The HBF Women into Home Building scheme is a national initiative designed to encourage more women to pursue careers in the sector. The programme offers a three-week pathway combining training, insight sessions, and on-site placements with housebuilders. For Bellway, this has already proved effective in bringing in new talent and widening participation in an industry traditionally dominated by men.
Read next: Tackling AI’s cooling bottleneck – Build in Digital
Are you a building professional? Sign up for a FREE MEMBERSHIP to upload news stories, post job vacancies, and connect with colleagues on our secure social feed.
