The initiative to recruit 85 school leavers, 16 years and over into firms in the North-East of England, over and above the normal recruitment intake, has attracted a number of new entrants, none of whom are female.
 
Douglas Kell, director of the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (North-East), said: "We are both bemused and disappointed. We want to see more women employed in our industry in this region. We already attract an encouraging number at graduate level."
 
Kell added: "We hope more young women will respond at the next opportunity. If the job appeal is not there for them we'd like to know what they do expect particularly from a lifelong career. Then we'll try to work that into it for them.
 
"Many are guided by parents and some may not think civil engineering at ground level is glamorous. But our member companies offer permanent prospects and opportunity to advance. And, as the firms are spread throughout the region, chances of finding work near home are good, no matter which part of the region people are from."