The construction sector has a problem. In fact, it has two. We are short on skills, and we are losing talent, especially mid-level women at the point where they should be stepping into leadership.
The Circle Academy has just launched in Scotland to tackle this. It is a 12-month programme aimed at keeping women in the built environment, property, and energy sectors. This is not the entry level pipeline or the boardroom; it is the mid-point where the data shows the biggest drop-off.
The programme includes leadership training, thought leadership summits, and mentoring with senior figures from organisations such as EDF, SSE, and Shoosmiths. It is not a box-ticking exercise, it is practical support designed to give people the skills and confidence to keep progressing.
This is not theory either. In England, the programme has already saved businesses more than £2 million in recruitment costs by improving retention. That is a hard number that proves what most of us know already: keeping the right people is always cheaper than replacing them.
Applications are now open for the 2026 Scotland pilot. For mid-level women working in construction, property, or energy, this is a chance to strengthen a career and build connections that matter.
At Ubrix, we see talent retention as a business-critical issue. Homes will not get built without the right people in place, and the industry cannot afford to keep losing skilled professionals. This programme will not solve the entire skills crisis, but it is a step in the right direction and one that deserves attention.
