Construction firm Skanska has set out on a drive to attract and retain more female members of staff as part of its ongoing diversity scheme.

Speaking at the European HR Directors' Summit in Birmingham yesterday, the firm's executive vice president of HR, Harvey Francis, said: "In terms of recruiting ethnic minorities we don't have an issue, but our industry is seen as very gender-specific.

"We are going out into schools and universities to show women the construction industry has changed."

Francis explained female graduates who work for Skanska typically stay only three to four years before being "tempted" away by consultancies.

He added: "We are improving conditions on site, bringing home our environmental values to employees and continuing to carry out research into the perceptions of Skanska and construction."

But in 2010 diversity will move higher up the HR agenda with the publication of the Equalities Bill later this year.

Paul Kennedy, HR director at New Balance, added: "The Government shouldn't have to legislate on diversity. It should be engrained in HR and should be at the top of our agenda."