The target was unveiled as O’Rourke supported the government’s ‘Your Life’ campaign to encourage more women into engineering.

O’Rourke also said that 40% of undergraduate sponsorship opportunities would be offered to women by 2016.

Anna Stewart, Group Chief Executive, Laing O’Rourke said: “Opportunities abound in engineering and construction for women with the intellect and ambition to fulfil their potential and help drive our industry forward.

“The engineering and technology sectors need to be bold and innovative in attracting new talent from all walks of life.

“That’s why I firmly believe that positively promoting workforce diversity through programmes like Your Life will have a transformational effect on the way we respond to the challenges of a post-recession world, driving greater adoption of new technologies and ways of working.”

Construction firms signed up to Government ‘Your Life’ campaign

Arup: commits to doubling the proportion of its female apprentices to 30% by 2030, meaning a total uptake of 10 female apprentices per year by 2030.

Atkins: 50 of firm’s most senior women leaders form the Atkins Women’s Leadership Council to help women to reach senior positions in the years to come.

Balfour Beatty: Pledges a quarter of senior leadership positions will held by women by 2015.

Bechtel: 14% of its engineering staff are women – more than twice the current national industry average of 6%. Launches Women@Bechtel networking forum and events.

Carillion: Launches Project SNOWE = Support Network for Operational Women Engineers and pledges to increasing the number of women in apprenticeships to 5% over the next 5 years.

Crossrail: through activities in schools, work place visits and other events, pledges to reach over 10,000 students and work with over 100 schools each year for the next two years.

Laing O’Rourke: commits to a target of 30% of its apprenticeship and cadet programme to be women by 2016.

Mace: continue its Insight Week initiative, promoting careers in construction among first and second year university students, with the aim of encouraging more women into the industry.

Network Rail: commits to recruiting 500 apprentices in the next three intakes, and aims to improve attraction rates of women to at least 12% by 2016.

Skanska: commits to at least 25% diversity among job interviewees.