Construction Futures has been named winner of the Excellence in Outreach category at the Inspiring Women in Construction & Engineering Awards 2026 in London, recognising its role in widening entry to construction careers and influencing strategic change across Northern Ireland's industry.

In a little over two years, the initiative has built a broad engagement programme spanning schools, colleges, universities, careers bodies, employers, government and community partners, with the goal of informing, attracting, developing and retaining the talent pipeline for the region's construction and built environment sectors.

Run through the Construction Employers Federation (CEF) with employee representatives from Unite and GMB, Construction Futures was created in 2024 in response to the 2023 EY Industry Skills Review report.

Awards judges commended the initiative for "creating significant, measurable achievement in a remarkably short time", noting its work to improve the accessibility of construction careers for women and its capacity to drive strategic change. They also pointed to its expanding network of delivery partners, praising its "infectious enthusiasm" and success in bringing government and charities on board while substantially increasing industry outreach.

The team has delivered activities that showcase the breadth of opportunities across the sector, from skilled trades and engineering to surveying, architecture, digital design and project management.

Among these is STEMstruct, a construction-focused STEM programme for primary pupils developed with Sentinus, featuring interactive workshops, a practical build project and early careers exploration.

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Construction Futures also launched and coordinates Build UK's Open Doors programme in Northern Ireland. In 2026, 17 companies hosted 47 events across 28 locations, welcoming 840 visitors; 97% of respondents said they would consider a career in construction.

A new online careers hub further supports prospective entrants with information on job roles, entry routes and progression.

Fionnuala McKenna, Head of Strategic Development at Construction Futures, commented: "We are absolutely thrilled to receive this award, particularly because it recognises on a national stage what a small team has achieved in such a short time, and the huge collective effort that sits behind Construction Futures.

"For us, outreach is about much more than simply talking about careers. It is about creating meaningful opportunities for people to experience the industry, meet the people working in it and understand the huge range of roles available. It is also about working with employers and education partners to make sure those conversations lead to genuine pathways into the sector.

"The skills challenge facing construction is significant and no single organisation can solve it alone. We need to reach people earlier, broaden our reach and work together as an entire industry. This recognition reflects the collective effort of our team, CEF, our employers and delivery partners across Northern Ireland, and we are hugely grateful to everyone who has supported Construction Futures and given their time, expertise and enthusiasm. We have achieved a lot in a short time, but there is much more to do, and hopefully this award helps us build even greater support across industry and education for what comes next."

Mark Spence, Chief Executive of the CEF, added: "This is an incredible achievement for Construction Futures and a real reflection of what can be achieved when an industry comes together around a shared challenge.

"Construction Futures is a little over two years old, but the scale of what the team has achieved in that time is remarkable. It has built relationships across industry, education, government and the community sector and created practical opportunities for people to see construction as a career they can genuinely aspire to.

"The support of CEF members and our wider industry partners has been fundamental to this success. Companies have opened their doors, given their time, provided expertise and helped us bring the reality of modern construction into classrooms and communities across Northern Ireland.

"We know our industry needs more people and a wider pool of talent. Construction Futures is helping us address that challenge by changing perceptions, improving access and showing the next generation that there is a place for them in the sector. Congratulations to the entire Construction Futures team on this fantastic achievement."

Construction Futures continues to work collaboratively across industry, education and government to tackle skills needs and support the future workforce in Northern Ireland.