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Identifying and accelerating the women who will shape the future of the built environment.
The Construction for Women Emerging Leaders Conference programme is a selective, year-long leadership and career-acceleration programme created to discover, connect and develop outstanding women within the first five years of their built-environment careers.
THE CLASS OF 2027
Developing the next generation of emerging female leaders
The Construction for Women Emerging Leaders Programme is a selective, year-long leadership and career-acceleration programme for outstanding women within the first five years of their built-environment careers.
Employers across the country are invited to nominate their strongest emerging female talent. Women can also apply directly for a place.
Construction for Women will select a Class of 100 women in each of 8 delivery cities, bringing together 800 ambitious women from construction, property, infrastructure and the wider built environment across the UK.
Who Can Take Part?
Who is the Emerging leaders programme for?
The CFW Emerging Leaders Programme is designed for women who are preparing to enter the built environment or are within approximately the first five years of their careers.
Applicants should:
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Identify as women
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Be within the first five years of their built-environment career
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Demonstrate ambition and leadership potential
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Be willing to participate throughout the full programme
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Contribute actively to their cohort and live industry challenge
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Have the support of their employer where they have been employer-nominated
Applications are welcomed from women across construction, planning, engineering, architecture, surveying, development, property, legal, finance, project management, sustainability and related disciplines.
How are Participants Selected?
A place in the Class of 2027 is earned, not given.
Every application and nomination is reviewed by Construction for Women, with selection based on leadership potential, achievements, ambition, industry contribution and commitment to the programme.
CFW will select a high-calibre, multidisciplinary cohort representing exceptional emerging talent across each region.
Employers may nominate up to five women, but nomination does not guarantee selection. Every candidate is assessed on the strength of their individual application and potential to contribute to the Class of 2027.
THE YEAR AHEAD
A year that could change the direction of your career
Members of the Class of 2027 will take part in a structured programme designed to develop their confidence, capability, visibility and relationships.
The year-long journey will include:
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Direct access to senior industry leaders and decision-makers
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An experienced mentor and structured mentoring support
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Multidisciplinary peer cohorts of ten
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Live regional challenges set by public-sector and industry partners
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Opportunities to lead, collaborate, present and influence
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Employer engagement and increased industry visibility
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Access to major built-environment events
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Continued membership of the CFW Emerging Leaders alumni network
What You Will Gain
Develop the confidence, capability and connections to lead
The Emerging Leaders Programme is designed to support participants during one of the most important stages of their careers—when confidence, opportunity, professional relationships and access to the right people can have a lasting effect on progression.
By taking part in the programme, members of the Class of 2027 will have the opportunity to strengthen their leadership capabilities, broaden their industry perspective, demonstrate their potential and build relationships that can support their long-term development.
Learn from senior industry Leaders
Gain honest insight, practical guidance and career advice from experienced leaders and decision-makers across the built environment.
Work across disciplines
Collaborate with women from different professions, organisations and backgrounds while developing a broader understanding of the built environment.
Build confidence to become a leader
Develop the confidence to communicate, network, pursue opportunities and take greater ownership of your career and progress towards leadership.
Receive structured mentoring support
Work with an experienced mentor through CFW’s structured programme, receiving guidance tailored to your development and professional progression.
Grow your professional network
Build meaningful relationships with mentors, employers, role models and emerging leaders across different disciplines, organisations and regions.
Access future opportunities
Increase your visibility across CFW’s network, with access to further events, professional development and opportunities through UKREiiF and MIPIM.
PROGRESSION OPPORTUNITIES
From regional potential to national influence
The Emerging Leaders Programme is designed to identify talent, accelerate progression and ensure that exceptional women are seen by the people and organisations capable of opening the next door.
The strongest-performing participants from each regional class will also be considered for further national and international opportunities through Construction for Women.
Progress to UKREiiF
The top-performing 20% of participants from each location will be invited to take part in CFW’s UKREiiF programme.
Be considered for MIPIM
The strongest 5% will be considered for the CFW MIPIM Challengers programme and the opportunity to gain international industry exposure.
Increase your industry visibility
Outstanding participants will receive increased visibility across CFW’s network of employers, programme partners and senior industry leaders.
Join the national alumni network
Graduates will become part of a growing national community of women expected to become the future leaders of the built environment.
Regional Conferences
Find your regional conference
The CFW Emerging Talent Programme will visit cities and regions across the UK during 2026–27. Explore the announced conferences below to view event information, application details, speakers and programme updates.
Construction for Women: Emerging Leaders Conference – Liverpool 202655 days to the eventThu 15 OctThe City of Liverpool College
CFW Emerging Leaders Conference – BirminghamDate and time is TBDLocation is TBD
FOR EMPLOYERS & Educators
Nominate the women with the potential to lead
Employers and education providers play an important role in identifying women whose potential, ambition and contribution deserve to be recognised.
Organisations may nominate up to five women for the Class of 2027. Construction for Women will then contact each nominee and invite her to complete an individual application.
A nomination is an endorsement of the candidate’s potential. It does not guarantee selection or allow an organisation to reserve a place.
Support talent. Strengthen your organisation
Develop emerging leaders
Give nominated employees access to a year-long programme of leadership development, mentoring and practical experience.
Recognise and retain talent
Show high-potential employees that your organisation recognises their contribution and is committed to their progression.
Increase employee visibility
Create opportunities for emerging talent to build relationships and demonstrate their capabilities beyond their immediate roles.
Build cross-industry connections
Connect nominated employees with emerging leaders, employers and senior figures from across the built environment.
Demonstrate measurable impact
Evidence meaningful investment in female progression, workforce development and the future industry talent pipeline.
Contribute to the programme
Access opportunities to support regional classes, live challenges, mentoring and participant progression.
WHY CONSTRUCTION FOR WOMEN?
Built on a proven record of creating opportunity
Construction for Women is a multi-award-winning organisation creating practical pathways into employment, progression and leadership across the built environment.
Through mentoring, employer engagement, careers programmes and access to major industry events, CFW has helped women and girls build their confidence, broaden their networks and access opportunities across the sector.
Our work includes:
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More than 300 women supported through CFW’s UKREiiF programme in 2025 & 2026
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Approximately 800 girls engaged through industry taster activities
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An established national mentoring and regional leadership network
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National recognition for leadership, outreach, social value and EDI impact
The Emerging Leaders Programme builds on that experience, bringing together CFW’s employer relationships, senior-industry network, regional reach and understanding of the barriers women can face during the early stages of their careers.
PARTNER WITH THE PROGRAMME
Connect your organisation with the next generation of female leadership
The CFW Emerging Leaders Programme is supported by organisations committed to developing talent, widening opportunity and building a stronger future workforce.
By partnering with Construction for Women, organisations can help deliver a high-quality national programme and its regional launch conferences, while demonstrating a meaningful commitment to the progression of emerging female talent across the built environment.
Partnerships are available across the national programme, within individual regions and around specific elements of the Emerging Leaders Conferences.
National Roadshow Partner
Support the Emerging Leaders Programme across multiple locations and position your organisation as a leading national supporter of emerging female leadership throughout the built environment.
Regional Conference Partners
Support the delivery of an individual Emerging Leaders Conference and connect your organisation with the selected regional class, employers, industry leaders and decision-makers in a priority location.
Conference Host
Provide an accessible, professional venue for an Emerging Leaders Conference and help create an environment in which the selected regional class can connect, develop and begin its leadership journey.
Programme Contributor
Support a specific part of the conference experience through opportunities including skills workshops, panel discussions, networking, participant access, industry challenges, mentoring, event materials and digital content.
Build a partnership around your organisation’s priorities
Work with Construction for Women to support emerging female talent and create lasting impact across the UK.
Whether you want to support the full national Roadshow, sponsor a regional conference, host an event or contribute expertise, Construction for Women can develop an opportunity aligned with your organisation’s objectives.
Each partnership will include a defined package of industry visibility, employee engagement, programme involvement and impact reporting, aligned with the nature and level of support provided.
The next generation of female leadership is already here
Exceptional women across the built environment are ready to lead. The Construction for Women Emerging Leaders Programme identifies that talent early, develops it with purpose and creates the visibility, relationships and opportunities needed to help emerging leaders progress.
This is the next generation of leadership in construction — and we invite you to be part of it.