A 4,000 shortfall in building recruits is predicted in London

Women Building London hopes to recruit 1,400 women and start training 40% during the next 15 months.

While large-scale building projects such as the new Wembley Stadium and the Thames Gateway redevelopment are under way, London is suffering from a shortage of new builders.

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) predicts over 8,000 new recruits a year will be needed until 2006, just to meet Greater London's building requirements.

But there are currently fewer than 4,000 new recruits a year to London's construction industry and less than 1% of workers are women.

Britain is not all male and white, and there are many stereotypes of the industry that need to be demolished Sir Michael Latham, CITB chairman

It emerged earlier this year that some construction workers on Heathrow's Terminal Five were being paid up to �55,000 a year.

But it is thought the industry suffers from an image problem and many women are put off by conditions on site as well as isolation and prejudice.

CITB chairman Sir Michael Latham said: "We need a construction industry that looks like Britain.

"Britain is not all male and white, and there are many stereotypes of the industry that need to be demolished."

The training scheme is being backed by the London Development Agency and run by the training provider Women's Education in Building (WEB).

WEB wants to attract women looking to change careers or looking for their first job.

The project will work with the industry as well as providing advice and training for potential recruits.

Construction minister Nigel Griffiths will help launch the campaign at Stratford, east London.