A new report from the Young Women’s Trust has revealed that new male apprentices will outnumber their female counterparts this year for the first time since 2010.

It is estimated that 8,000 more men than women started an apprenticeship last year, proving that the system isn’t working for women who aspire to careers in the construction industry.

The study also found that there were no ‘higher level’ female apprentices in London in both construction and engineering.

Chief executive of the trust Dr Carole Easton said that this trend proves why we need to “support young women into these apprenticeships to benefit businesses as well as the economy.”

Gender stereotypes are thought to be one of the main reasons behind the gender disparities in the industry. There are several organisations willing to help combat the issue, including ‘Chicks with Bricks‘, a network that seeks to connect women working in the construction industry.

EDF Energy have also taken initiative to tackle the issue with their ‘Women into Construction and Engineering’ project which encourages girls to pursue STEM subjects: