To celebrate and support Women In Construction Week, we spoke to some of our clients and candidates to share their experiences of what it is like working in a male-dominated industry; how it has changed over the years, and what could be done further into making the industry more diverse and appealing to other women thinking of entering the industry.
Ciara Redmond a Project Manager for Kellys Group Ltd provides her thoughts and advice to future colleagues.
Building and contributing to the creation of something sustainable has always peaked my interest. Construction is an industry that makes positive impacts in the world around us, and to be a part of creating the infrastructure to keep the country moving forward, is very rewarding. Kelly Group is renowned for building telecommunication and utility networks in collaboration with several leading service providers, connecting people globally.
While construction remains a male-dominated industry, the workforce is finally becoming more gender diverse. There has been an increase in the promotion of flexibility throughout the construction industry. There is more consideration for women that may need working hours altered due to their children. The industry are being much more aware of the social responsibility agenda to promote both equality and diversity. For example, Kelly’s had a football tournament to raise money for ‘Movember’ a few months ago, and we had an all-ladies team. It was so successful, there was a real sense of team spirit.
Be yourself. Be confident enough to use your skillsets and knowledge to make the right decisions. Listen and learn from other colleagues’ thoughts and ideas. You will earn your respect as a professional, regardless of your gender.
Put yourself first, do not let anyone hold you back, and know your worth! You will have the respect and support of all of your coworkers. It is not as scary as it may seem. Go for it, you have nothing to lose.
By teaching students from a young age, the different elements involved in the construction industry. Construction is no longer just about manual labour. This eliminates the frightening element for women, it now includes specialist areas like technology, engineering, and innovation. I think a huge part is visiting schools and sixth forms to showcase the variety of careers in construction. I believe educating people about these opportunities from a young age would help. The industry not only has a part to play, but also the companies within it. Therefore, recruitment will have a huge part to play. Improving the recruitment process and culture of a business is vital in order to promote diversity.
