A ‘female friendly’ job site has commended Aggregate Industries for its efforts to get more women into construction.

WORK180 is a jobs platform that pre-screens employers to ensure they do their upmost to give women equal opportunities.

The criteria businesses are evaluated against include pay equality, flexible working, women in leadership, paid parental leave and access to mentor programmes.

Construction materials supplier Aggregate has been recognised by the site as an ‘Endorsed Employer of Women’, following its target to achieve a gender balance of 20% women by 2020, which it says it is on track to exceed.

A third of apprentices in its graduate and higher schemes in 2015 and 2016 were women, covering the full spectrum of corporate and operational roles.

It has also set up a mentor programme for female graduates, offering support with career and professional development.

Hazel Mooney, Talent Acquisition Lead at Aggregate Industries, said: “Despite progress made in recent years, there is no escaping the fact that there is still a huge job to do in dispelling this age-old image of our industry as being male dominated and having to work harder to attract female talent.

“As an industry, we must take decisive action to tackle the gender equality issue if we are to ensure a thriving future workforce and help to bridge the escalating skills gap.

“By joining WORK180 we hope to show we are an inclusive, gender-neutral organisation which doesn’t just welcome female workers – we’re actively seeking them.”