Rosa Schiano-Phan (School of Architecture and Cities), Linda Clarke & Anca Zahan (Westminster Business School) Research 2025

Breaking Barriers and Building Better: Women’s Contributions to Construction Quality and Sustainability

This pilot study focused on the experiences and perceptions of tradeswomen and women in construction vocational educational training. The objective was to evidence the contribution that women make to quality and sustainability in construction. The study was conducted using focus groups and one to one semi structured interviews in collaboration with Enfield Construction Skills Academy and Islington Council. 

The preliminary results from the study show that women trainees and in trade are aware of the importance of sustainability issues and of their positive impact on removing gender stereotypes as well as improving construction quality. Although they lament that there are too few female role models in the field, they also acknowledge that, in educational settings, they are often referred to as role models to male counterparts for the quality of their work and neatness.