BuildHer: Creating the pathways that bring more women into housing maintenance

Housing 2026 brought together thousands of people from across the social housing sector to share ideas, tackles challenges and learn from each other. As proud sponsors of Braindate – a dedicated programme designed around informal, peer-led discussions – we’re reflecting on some of the conversations that stood out across the event.

In this blog, we look at how the BuildHer Programme – a collaborative initiative between the two businesses – is creating more accessible pathways into the industry for women from social housing communities.

Centred on the challenge of skills in construction and property maintenance, the session was hosted by Sophie Seddon, Non-Executive Director at Novus Property Solutions, and Jen Radcliffe, Head of Partnerships of PfP Thrive. 

Creating a complete pathway

Rather than simply introducing women to careers in the trades, the discussion focussed on something much broader: how to create a complete journey that builds confidence alongside developing skills to open the door to long-term employment opportunities.

BuildHer has been designed to support women who may be unemployed, considering a career change or simply looking for a new opportunity by providing support such as:

• Practical trade awareness and hands-on experience
• Confidence building and personal development
• Employability skills and career guidance
• Insight into the wide range of roles available across housing maintenance

Instead of focusing on a single destination, the programme encourages participants to explore the breadth of opportunities within the sector, from trades and surveying to site management and wider property services.

Connecting skills and opportunities

One of the strongest messages from the session was that raising awareness is only the first step. It’s the confidence, encouragement and ongoing support that help people take the next step and build lasting careers. 

By working alongside housing providers and industry partners, the ambition is to deliver BuildHer directly within local communities, giving customers access to programmes that can lead to apprenticeships, further training and sustainable careers.

This collaborative approach delivers benefits right across the sector. Participants gain the skills and support needed to enter the industry, while organisations can address one of the sector’s biggest challenges – attracting and developing the workforce of the future.

Representation matters

Perhaps the most thought-provoking part of the Braindate conversation was how many people reflected that a programme like BuildHer would have been beneficial when they were starting out in their careers.

There are undoubtedly people with the determination, ability and willingness to learn who simply don’t see housing maintenance as a career option. For many, it’s not a lack of potential that holds them back, but a lack of visibility, confidence, support or opportunity.

That’s why initiatives such as BuildHer matter, creative the collaborative approach required across the industry to make opportunities available.

Our industry is always seeking fresh talent and diverse perspectives, and by making career pathways more visible and providing the support to take those first steps, programmes like BuildHer are demonstrating that housing maintenance is a career that’s open to everyone.

Building the workforce of tomorrow

As the housing sector continues to face significant skills shortages, increasing female representation across the trades, surveying and site-based roles is about much more than improving diversity. Ultimately, it’s about strengthening the future workforce by bringing together different experiences, ideas and perspectives.

Encouragingly, the conversation also explored how participants can continue developing beyond the initial programme. As the initial stage of a longer journey, opportunities for further training, apprenticeships and long-term career progression can be explored upon completion.

That long-term focus is what makes BuildHer so powerful. While it initially opens the door into the industry, it genuinely helps people to build lasting careers.

Final reflections

If there’s one takeaway from this Braindate session, it is that solving our sector’s skills challenge isn’t simply about recruiting more people, but making sure opportunities are accessible and supporting more people to see themselves in the industry in the first place.

BuildHer is one example of what can be achieved when organisations work together to remove barriers, build confidence and create meaningful career pathways. As the sector continues to invest in the workforce of tomorrow, those collaborative approaches will become more important than ever.

That’s because creating the homes and communities of tomorrow starts with creating opportunities for the people who will help maintain them.