Construction Futures wins Excellence in Outreach award
24th Sep 2026
Construction Futures has been named the winner of the Excellence in Outreach award at the Inspiring Women in Construction & Engineering Awards 2026 in London, recognising its significant impact in improving access to construction careers and driving strategic change across the industry in Northern Ireland.
In just over two years, Construction Futures has developed an extensive programme of engagement spanning schools, colleges, universities, careers organisations, employers, government and community partners, with the aim of informing, attracting, developing and retaining the workforce needed to support Northern Ireland’s construction and built environment industry.
The industry-led initiative, operated through the Construction Employers Federation (CEF) in partnership with employee representatives from Unite and GMB, was established in 2024 following the 2023 EY Industry Skills Review report.
The judges praised Construction Futures for “creating significant, measurable achievement in a remarkably short time”, highlighting its work to transform the accessibility of construction careers for women and its ability to drive strategic change across the industry. They also recognised the initiative’s growing network of delivery partners, describing its “infectious enthusiasm” and its success in bringing government and charities on board while significantly increasing the sector’s outreach capacity.
Construction Futures has delivered a range of initiatives designed to give people a clearer understanding of the breadth of careers available across the industry – from skilled trades and engineering to surveying, architecture, digital design and project management.
Among these is STEMstruct, developed in partnership with Sentinus, a construction-focused STEM programme introducing primary school pupils to the industry through interactive workshops, a hands-on construction project and early careers exploration. The programme also includes Open Doors, a Build UK initiative launched and coordinated in Northern Ireland by Construction Futures. In 2026, Open Doors saw 17 companies host 47 events across 28 locations, welcoming 840 visitors, with 97% of respondents saying they would consider a career in construction. A new online careers hub also provides information on roles, entry routes and career progression across the industry.
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 works collaboratively across industry, education and government to address skills challenges and support the future construction workforce in Northern Ireland.
