Seventh cohort launched this week
The Home Builders Federation (HBF) has launched the latest cohort of its Women into Home Building programme, enjoying a record number of housebuilders joining the initiative.
Building on the success of the spring 2025 cohort, the upcoming programme boasts the largest number of home builders hosting women on sites, with more than 45 placements available across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The initiative is designed to introduce more women to careers in site management, provide hands-on experience, and candidates with potential employers. The Women into Home Building programme has become a key activity for creating a strong talent pipeline and an inclusive workforce, reinforcing the industry’s commitment to attracting the future workforce.
The application window closes at midnight on Sunday 21 September.
The success of the Women into Home Building programme is a testament to how the industry is proactively working to enhance diversity and develop a skilled and inclusive workforce. These efforts play a vital role in attracting a wider talent pool into the sector.
As a leading voice in the industry, we are committed to supporting entry routes for women and the practical steps being taken to widen participation. Our initiative offers an opportunity for women around the UK to gain valuable skills and progress into future industry management and leadership roles.
Andy George, Director of Industry Attraction and Skills, HBF
NHBC Foundation launches quality report
The NHBC have published a report to highlight the importance of maintaining quality through the planning and build process, ahead of a potential increase in new homes production.
The report, Maintaining quality in the design and construction of 1.5 million homes, states that that the historic link between increased volume and a reduction in quality “must be broken”.
Informed by a roundtable held in January and attended by 16 industry stakeholders, the Foundation has identified positive recommendations for the industry and government to ensure quality is achieved.
The Foundation recognised that the definition of ‘quality’ encompasses five key areas:
- Perceived quality: the quality of finishes and materials used
- In-built quality: structural and technical details
- Design quality: the overall design of a home, and how well it functions
- Fundamental quality: achieving compliance with minimum standards
- Transactional quality: the service provided through the purchasing process
The report goes on to recommend support for SMEs, regulatory change, development of skills and workforce and MMC training requirements as key areas of focus.
Housing View 