International Women’s Day: 8th March 2025

Celebrating Women in the Industry: Breaking Barriers and Building the Future

As we continue to highlight the incredible women who have shaped APS and the wider design and construction industry, we celebrate their resilience, talent, and achievements—while looking forward to an even brighter, more inclusive future.

Today, our spotlight is on Helena Knight, an APS Director. Helena is a highly experienced construction industry director with over 20 years of expertise in CDM consultancy. As Managing Director of GHPC Group, she has led Principal Designer and H&S Advisory services for major infrastructure, mixed-use, and residential projects across various sectors, including commercial, retail, education, leisure, defence, and rail.

What inspired you to pursue a career in construction/design? Completely by accident. I found a Quantity Surveying course in a prospectus and thought it interested me. No one in my family had been involved in surveying or construction.

What challenges have you overcome as a woman in the industry?

I went self-employed when raising my family to ‘in theory’ give me flexibility’. Initial prejudice staved off by proving ability.

What advice would you give to young women entering the field?

You can do it. People will support you. Knowledge will give you strength. Professionalism and ethics are important.

What progress have you seen in gender diversity, and what still needs to change?

Unfortunately not enough young women are coming into our industry and staying.

Who has inspired or supported you along the way?

Male colleagues, especially older male colleagues, not so much peers, and Female administrators as there were so few women technical colleagues