In response to new research exposing Britain’s growing trade skills gap, Overland Shoes, the company behind Bobcat Safety Footwear, says the role of women’s-specific PPE in attracting more women into the trades and tackling the workforce shortage must not be overlooked.

According to the recently released Skills England Annual Skills Report 2026 demand across the priority economic sector – particularly construction – will grow by 24% in the next decade. To meet this need, the UK will require up to 1.8 million additional workers. Separate reports continue to highlight that essential trades, including electrical, construction and installation, are among those at greatest risk as demand rises and new entrant numbers decline.

An obvious solution lies in attracting more women into trade industries, with female representation still inherently low. However, the consensus is that inclusivity is still not as highly prioritised as it should be – with various evidence suggesting that unconscious bias and inequality continues to be an issue, not least of all, according to Overland Shoes, when it comes to PPE.

“It may sound simple but the importance of gender-specific PPE in supporting women in the trades cannot be overstated. For too long, the industry has relied on a ‘shrink it and pink it’ approach to women’s workwear, paying little, if any, attention to the significant anatomical differences between men and women. As a result, many female workers have been left with ill-fitting, uncomfortable PPE that simply isn’t fit for purpose.

“This outdated approach only reinforces inequality. If we want to build a truly inclusive future workforce, we must first equip it properly. Every worker deserves PPE that fits, protects and enables them to do their job with confidence.”

In a bid to help close the gender PPE gap, Overland Shoes, a global leader in footwear design, sourcing and wholesale, recently launched an all-new Bobcat Safety Footwear women’s collection – engineered specifically to deliver the perfect mix of safety, comfort and style for women across all industries.

The dedicated women’s range, spanning over five distinct design handles, is purpose-built on anatomically correct, gender-specific lasts, offering proper

fit, proportional safety and enduring comfort. Every model carries the signature Bobcat design language, with safety features tuned for real-world jobsite environments and the unique comfort advantage of Redbacks® Leaf Spring Technology at the core. Independently proven to improve shock absorption by up to 46% and outperform industry-leading insoles by up to 30%, this technology helps reduce impact and fatigue over long hours on the job.

Offering a significant opportunity for merchants and distributors to both help close the PPE gender gap and tap into a lucrative new revenue stream, the Bobcat Safety Footwear launch is supported by a major national marketing and PR campaign, alongside dedicated PoS materials and social media promotion.

Peter adds: “It’s clear that our sector remains in the throes of its worst skills deficit on record, with success in attracting and retaining from a wider talent pool – including more women – being key to this. Inclusion starts with the basics. By providing gender-specific workwear, we are showing women that they are wanted, valued and supported from day one.”