Twenty Years of Change for Women in Construction…

With International Women's Day approaching on March 8th, I've been reflecting on my career and whether attitudes towards women in construction have improved over the past twenty years. 

I first entered the construction field at 18, working for a Borough Council's Operational Services department, which included Building Maintenance, Highways, and Cleansing. 

I managed an administration team supporting section supervisors. The work was diverse, and the camaraderie was great, introducing me to construction and project management. 

At that time, there were no female supervisors. Men handled on-site management, while women did administrative tasks. Office culture included smoking and colorful language, far from today's equality standards. 

The environment was not perfectly polished at the time. However, there were several women who were starting to break the Mold. A female Environmental Health Officer, who was also a union representative, as well as a receptionist appointed as a recycling officer, were notable examples of progress. These were significant steps forward during that period. The Service Manager was quite supportive of promoting women. Under his guidance, I developed an interest in housing and construction, which led me to move to a neighbouring council as an Urban Renewal Officer. This role provided me with my first substantial exposure to the construction industry. 

Initially, I had no formal training in construction. My role primarily involved housing grants and customer service to support participants in housing renewal and facelift schemes. This required close collaboration with the Building Control Team, responsible for providing technical expertise. 

An internal restructure presented an opportunity for me to undertake formal construction training. The department had recently appointed a new female manager to head the regeneration team, whose background was in quantity surveying. She became a significant mentor to me. 

At that time, all the technical officers were men. With her support, I pursued day release to university to obtain a Quantity Surveying Degree. Admittedly, I was unfamiliar with the specifics of a Quantity Surveyor’s role but recognised this as a chance to transition from office duties to site work. 

Her unwavering support throughout my degree profoundly impacted me, empowering me to step out of administrative roles and into on-site positions. I completed my degree at Salford University, where female participation in lectures was minimal. Over the past twenty years, there has been a notable increase in female surveyors, reflecting the industry's efforts to promote women in construction. Nevertheless, there remains substantial progress to be made. 

Conditions on construction sites have also evolved. In the early days, facilities such as restrooms were often inadequate or non-existent for women. Frequently, I had to use local supermarkets' facilities due to the unsanitary conditions on-site. 

Despite being an exception, other women on-site typically held customer service or administrative roles. My counterparts were predominantly men. Although female surveyors are now more common in client roles or with larger main contractors, it is still unusual for me to work alongside other female professionals. In over twenty years, I have only worked with one female site manager, who was exceptional and perhaps 5 or 6 female Quantity Surveyors. 

It is crucial for women to support each other within this industry. Promoting awareness that attitudes are evolving and that there is a place for female site management is essential. The industry should aim to promote a diverse workforce that challenges norms. 

In my experience, I often felt pressured to fulfil a role traditionally set up for men. Competing with male colleagues sometimes necessitated adopting their working methods, which I believe is a flawed approach. Women should be empowered to bring their unique strengths to their roles without facing bias. Supporting and helping other women succeed should be normalized, and open discussions about industry realities should not hinder one’s career progression or acceptance on-site. 

Would I encourage my daughter to enter this industry? Yes, despite the existing prejudices, continuous evolution offers substantial rewards that outweigh the negatives.