At Ingleton Wood we are proud to have two female partners out of ten, but we realise that at 20% this is certainly not a time to rest on our laurels. From building sites to consultants’ offices, the construction industry is sorely lacking in women and in the midst of a recruitment crisis this is more than just a moral issue. We need to do more to encourage women and girls to see the great opportunities that await them wherever their skills and interests lie. Ingleton Wood have worked hard at all levels to do our part. Engagement with STEMazing to demonstrate science and engineering to all primary school children, but especially girls, through the use of female role models may seem a long term strategy, but has also been empowering for those who took part. Work experience opportunities have always been a big part of office life at Ingleton Wood and we are now tracking these to make sure we offer equally to young men and women. Our apprenticeship programme is growing rapidly, as we see this as a way to deal with not only gender discrimination but also social exclusion. Of 18 apprentices in 2023, 5 are women. And finally, we work constantly to ensure that our policies and processes allow and encourage women to stay in the workforce through all stages of life.