Liverpool city region building firm Frank Rogers leads push to bring more women into the construction sector to help address chronic skills shortages. Tony McDonough reports
Fast-growing Liverpool building contractor Frank Rogers is taking a leading role in tackling one of its industry’s biggest challenges – attracting and retaining more women into the workforce.
In March the firm will host a Women in Construction event to coincide with International Women’s Day. It will bring together influential female leaders from across the sector to explore how a more diverse workforce can strengthen the future of construction.
The family-owned business, founded more than 50 years ago and now operating nationally across construction, fire protection and building safety, has built a reputation for combining technical delivery with strong social value and community impact.
Managing director Dean Rogers said the company’s continued growth has been driven by a willingness to challenge traditional thinking.
“There are huge opportunities in construction, but there are also very real challenges, and skills are one of the biggest,” said Dean.
“With demand continuing to rise and the government’s ambition to deliver 1.5m new homes, the industry simply cannot afford to overlook half the population.
“Encouraging more women into construction is not just the right thing to do, it’s essential if we’re serious about building a sustainable workforce.”
While more than 340,000 women currently work in UK construction, they represent just 15% of the workforce, with only around 2% in on-site trade roles – a figure Frank Rogers believes must change.
The Women in Construction event, delivered in partnership with The Big Trust, will take place at Hope Street Hotel in Liverpool city centre on Thursday, March 5, from 4pm to 7pm.
A key focus of the event will be discussion around the Girls in Construction pilot programme, which launched in January this year. The programme was curated by head of marketing and communications at Frank Rogers, Rachel Walker.
Delivered in all-girls secondary schools across the Liverpool city region, the Girls in Construction programme is designed to incentivise young women to explore careers and opportunities in the sector at an earlier stage.
It combines industry-led workshops, lived experience and practical insight into the wide range of roles available within the built environment.
Insights and early learnings from the pilot will be shared at the event, helping to shape the future direction of the programme and inform practical next steps.
The event will also feature a panel discussion with leading voices from the industry, including Renee Preston of Manchester-based Gallaway Construction, a national campaigner for improved standards and inclusion for women on site.
It will also include The Pink Plasterer, a well-known advocate for women in the trades, challenging stereotypes and promoting visible role models.
READ MORE: Builder Frank Rogers hails ‘strong pipeline’ for 2026
READ MORE: Window boss takes on wider city region remit
Dean added: “This event isn’t just about encouraging girls into construction – it’s also about addressing the barriers women already working in the industry continue to face. There’s no point opening the door if the environment they walk into isn’t fair, supportive and inclusive.
“We’ll be sharing learnings from the pilot, hearing from those driving real change, and exploring what the next steps need to be if the industry is serious about doing better.”