A construction industry awards ceremony has sparked controversy and widespread criticism following the appearance of female performers dressed in skin-tight, builder-themed outfits, leading to calls for change within the sector.

The event, organized by On The Tools, a prominent online community for builders, came under fire after photos circulated showing women dressed in tight-fitting costumes inspired by personal protective equipment (PPE) and performing on stilts. The display, intended to entertain the audience, quickly became the subject of heated debate.

Faye Allen, a diversity campaigner and former director at construction company Arcadis, expressed her frustration with the event. She was contacted by “horrified” attendees, including one woman who felt uncomfortable when she “literally walked into a crotch.” Allen, who has worked in the industry for 30 years, voiced her concerns about the ongoing struggles women face in construction, particularly regarding proper-fitting PPE. “To have people put on hi-vis colours and dress like that is frustrating,” she said. “We’ve been fighting really hard for PPE that fits women and other diverse groups. It has to change.”

Harriet Waley-Cohen, another advocate for diversity, took to LinkedIn to condemn the event, calling it a “regressive, sexist” display. She argued that those involved in organizing the event “decided that it’s OK to sexualise and devalue women in the industry.” Waley-Cohen pointed out that women in construction already face significant challenges, including shorter careers than their male counterparts. “What happened at the awards absolutely reinforces all of this,” she said, noting that incidents like this contribute to the unsafe and sexualized environment many women face in the field.

The controversy deepened after a photo from the event circulated on social media, showing a sign featuring a loading bar at 69% progress, with the caption “Getting drunk, please wait…” This further fueled outrage, with many critics arguing that it perpetuated toxic behavior within the industry. Allen remarked, “The industry will never be inclusive if this messaging carries on. Women don’t want tacky events or people getting drunk for the sake of it; we just want respect and to be able to do our jobs.”

In response to the backlash, Lee Wilcox, the chief executive of On The Tools, issued a public apology on LinkedIn. He acknowledged that the company had used an external contractor to plan the event but had failed to review the performers’ outfits beforehand. “This was a mess-up, and we’re sorry,” Wilcox wrote, adding that the company’s goal was always to empower women. He personally reached out to both Allen and Waley-Cohen to apologize for the incident.

The fallout from the awards ceremony comes at a time when research reveals the ongoing struggles women face in construction. According to Allen’s forthcoming book, Building Women: How Everyone in Construction Can Win, one in four women in the industry were sexually assaulted at work in 2023, equating to around 74,000 women in British construction.

The incident has highlighted the need for further reform in the construction sector, with many calling for a more inclusive and respectful culture for women in the industry.

House prices across the UK have risen over the past year, with every region seeing an increase in average property prices, according to new data from property search website Zoopla. Over the past 12 months, prices have climbed by 1.5%, and experts forecast further growth in 2025, although recent budget changes may exert some dampening effects.

The rise in prices has not been uniform, with a clear north-south divide emerging. Northern regions, which are generally more affordable, have seen sharper price increases compared to areas around London, where housing prices are higher and more sensitive to interest rate fluctuations. For example, in Northern Ireland, house prices have surged by 6.3% from last year, while the southeast of England has experienced a modest increase of just 0.3%.

Looking ahead, Zoopla forecasts a 2.5% increase in house prices for 2025, in line with expectations from other industry analysts. Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla, highlighted that stronger-than-expected income growth this year, coupled with a retreat in mortgage rates, has improved affordability for potential buyers.

Additionally, Donnell predicts that 2025 will see 1.15 million housing transactions, marking a 5% increase compared to this year. However, affordability pressures are expected to persist, particularly in London and the southeast, where markets are likely to continue lagging behind their northern counterparts.

Despite the overall positive outlook, Donnell noted that his forecasts would have been more optimistic if not for the upcoming “budget changes,” which he believes will likely act as a drag on price inflation. Starting in April 2025, buyers will face higher stamp duty rates, particularly affecting those in higher price brackets. Zoopla estimates that approximately half of today’s buyers pay stamp duty, but this figure is set to rise to over 80% next spring. For first-time buyers, the proportion expected to pay stamp duty is likely to double to 40%.

Zoopla’s data also shows that the housing market is more active than usual as buyers rush to complete transactions before these tax changes come into effect. The number of sales agreed is 19% higher than this time last year, and buyer demand has increased by 25%.

As the market heads into 2025, experts suggest that while house prices will continue to rise, affordability challenges remain, especially in the south of England, where higher costs may deter some buyers. The impact of the upcoming stamp duty changes will likely shape the market as the year progresses.