"At A Connolly we want to show that working in construction is not just a trade - it opens the door for many possibilities to move up a career ladder."
Kerry Whittle
Three female leaders at the top of the game in the building trade have been urging more women to look at the construction industry as a career option.
Kerry Whittle, Julie Lowe and Caroline Yeo, have all worked at A Connolly building services based in Wigan, for a combine total of 17 years, taking up three of the ten leadership roles.
Julie, 46, who is the office manager at A Connolly, and Caroline, 37, who is the senior liaison officer and customer care leader, say they have always had a positive experience working in a male dominate environment.
But for Kerry, 45, who has been the business development leader at A Connolly for two years, it has been a mixed experience of working in a ‘man’s world’, having previously worked as a building surveyor and site manager.
She said: “I have started to see a shift in the industry with how women are accepted. Although I still feel women have to work harder to get the recognition they deserve. I have been very accepted in some situations and in others there is still the mentality that women are there to make the tea. Some people just can’t cope with confident women and you have to have the tools in your kit bag to be able to deal with that.
“My advice is for women to stay true to themselves and be confident in their abilities. And I am all for highlighting gender diversity - admin staff don’t always have to be female and site managers don’t have to always be male – we need a mix for any industry to be the best. A lot of it is about education for both young men and women, knowing that construction is a good career option for either sex.
“We wanted to celebrate women this International Women’s Day, but we were also celebrating National Apprentice Week at A Connolly to show that working in construction is ‘not just a trade’ – it opens the door for many possibilities to move up a career ladder.”
A Connolly delivers planned refurbishment to the housing, education, health, commercial, retail, industrial, leisure and energy, with services ranging from cyclical maintenance, refurbishment, and new builds.
For more information on how to get into the construction industry contact A Connolly on 01942 244 443 or email info@aconnollyltd.co.uk
