As people across the world celebrate International Women’s Day today [Monday, March 8], women are being encouraged to take jobs in the construction industry.
Barratt and David Wilson Homes, which has a branch in Milton Keynes, are keen to see women join the field as they plan to 'quash the age-old stereotype', that the industry is mainly for men.
The number of female construction workers have increased steadily over the past 12 years, but it is still relatively low compared to how many men work in the industry.
Francesca Denny, who is the assistant site manager at the housebuilder’s Fairfields development in the town said: “I chose to pursue this career because I wanted something that was challenging - both mentally and physically - varied, and where I could feel proud of the work that I’d achieved.
“The housebuilding industry offered all of these.
“There may fewer women currently working onsite, but that doesn’t mean we’re any less capable of delivering a quality product.
“It just makes us more determined to succeed.
Francesca with a site manager in one of the homes
“Whilst there are times where you will find yourself covered in mud, this perceived ‘negative’ is far outweighed by the positives of the job - the satisfaction that you have handed over a quality product to a happy customer.
“My advice to women looking to join the industry would be to just do it.
“There is nothing stopping you - especially your gender.
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It’s a really rewarding career with great progression.”
Research figures from the union for construction workers, GMB, showed that if the rate of female employees continues to rise at the rate it is now, women won’t equal men until 2194.
Francesca Denny
Amer Alkhalil, Managing Director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes Northampton, said: “We want to quash the age-old stereotype that the construction industry is a male-dominated field as we have many women who work out on-site as well as in office-based roles.
“With a range of departments within the company, we want to remind women that there are a variety of different roles that can be offered within the business that have great benefits and excellent opportunities for career progression.”
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