SME housebuilders collaborate to drive gender equality 

A cross-party forum within Parliament has launched a mentorship programme to attract and retain more women in the housebuilding sector. 

I am a Housebuilder, an initiative set up by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for SME Housebuilders, aims to break down barriers to entry, drive inclusion across the sector and support the progression of women into senior leadership positions. 

The mentorship programme will pair women working in housebuilding or the wider construction industry with senior female leaders from UK SME housebuilders.

The initiative is spearheaded by the ‘magnificent seven’, a group of seven women who each run SME housebuilding businesses and who are committed to supporting the next generation of female talent. 

The group includes Xuan Meng, founder and director at Cosy Hauz; Charlotte Edwards, managing director at Dennis Edwards Homes; Georgina Hammond, co-founder and director at Beau Property; Sarah Barraclough, managing director at Skipton Properties; Rosey Cassidy, director at Newman Rose; Sophie Horgan, director at Horgan Homes; and Alice Maughan, creative director and designer at Stronghold Homes.

As part of the programme, mentors and mentees will meet on a quarterly basis. In addition to career guidance, those participating in the mentorship programme will have access to legal advice and support from law firm James & West.

Edwin de Silva, secretariat for the APPG for SME Housebuilders, said: “SME housebuilders have a hugely important role to play in our economy but adverse fiscal conditions have seen their numbers plummet. 

“Opening up the sector to a wider range of talent will foster diversity of perspective and experience, driving innovation and growth. 

“There is so much talent that is yet to be tapped into and we hope the mentorship programme will help elevate the next generation of female leaders. Such is the need for the programme that we actually received applications before the launch and have already started work.”

The programme is open to women aged 21 or older, who are entitled to work in the UK and who have at least four years’ experience and/or qualifications in construction or housebuilding. 

Applicants are invited to complete a questionnaire, outlining their career to date, their professional aspirations and what they hope to achieve through the programme. 

The application deadline is 5pm on 27 September and will be judged independently by a panel comprising the ‘magnificent seven’ housebuilders, the secretariat for the APPG, representatives from programme sponsor Saint-Gobain Interior Solutions, and other industry leaders. 

Applicants who score highly will be invited to take part in a short interview before the final selection is made on 14 October.