The construction industry, long associated with resilience and strength, is now beginning to shine a light on another crucial element of success: the wellbeing and confidence of its workforce. For women in particular, stress and self-doubt remain significant hurdles, but initiatives such as Women in Construction: The Power Within Her are paving the way for change.

According to Ciphr’s 2024 research into stress, women experience markedly higher levels of strain than men. On average, women in the UK report feeling stressed for 11.7 days per month, compared to 8.7 days for men. The causes are wide-ranging. 38% of people are affected by money worries and financial stress. 30% say that work in general makes them feel stressed. 28% point directly to workload demands as a source of pressure.

In construction, a sector often characterised by tight deadlines, complex logistics and safety-critical environments, these stressors can be even more acute. The industry’s need for greater awareness of mental health is clear, particularly when it comes to supporting women who continue to be underrepresented in senior roles.

The conversation around women’s workplace experiences does not end with stress. Research from My Confidence Matters reveals that 70% of people admit to regularly lacking confidence at work, but the disparity between genders is stark. 79% of women compared with 62% of men say they struggle with confidence in the workplace. Only half of female respondents feel they would receive enough support from their manager if their confidence faltered.

In construction, where stepping into supervisory or leadership roles requires visibility, authority and assertiveness, this lack of confidence can be a barrier to progression. Without structured support, women risk being overlooked for the very positions that could diversify and strengthen the sector.

That is where Women in Construction: The Power Within Her comes in. The organisation is tackling these barriers directly with its flagship programme, the Women in Leadership: Leading With Motivational Intelligence Executive Diploma. Fully funded by the Construction Industry Training Board, the diploma ensures that eligible women can access advanced leadership training without financial cost.

Unlike traditional technical qualifications, the diploma focuses on building the leadership capabilities that directly influence workplace culture and project outcomes, including communication and interpersonal skills, navigating workplace challenges, resilience and mental toughness, and strategic thinking and decision making. This approach means that participants are not only technically qualified in their trade but are also empowered to take on supervisory and senior positions where their decisions can shape safety standards, project quality and workforce wellbeing.

The impact is already being felt across the UK. Women completing the diploma are transitioning into supervisory positions, leading teams on high profile projects and proving that diverse leadership is key to achieving industry-wide goals such as closing the skills gap and meeting safety targets.

By addressing both the mental health challenges and confidence disparities faced by women, initiatives like Women in Construction: The Power Within Her are redefining what leadership looks like in the sector. They are proving that resilience in construction does not just come from physical strength. It also comes from motivated, confident leaders who can inspire lasting change.

For more information about the Women in Leadership courses or to register interest, visit here.