Women in construction: Finding my way into the sector

One of my favourite parts was hearing Daphne Doody-Green share her own story and then getting the chance to be in a group with her afterwards. Listening to her reflect so openly on leadership, career progression and the experiences that shape you made me think about my own route into construction, and how much of that journey was shaped long before I realised it.

I was privileged to grow up in a household where there were no obvious barriers. My mum was strong minded, practical and determined. Having overcome health issues as a child, she had a very clear view that you could do anything you put your mind to, and that attitude shaped me more than I probably appreciated at the time.

I was also the daughter of an engineer, which meant I grew up around ideas, drawings and conversations that now feel closely connected to the sectors I work in. It took until my early twenties to realise that seeing automation diagrams, looking through photographs of production lines and getting to try what may well have been the world’s first, and possibly only, hologram lollipop was not necessarily typical. At the time, it was simply part of the world I knew.

My dad also taught me the importance of a strong handshake, which meant I went into my first job in a male dominated sector with very little awareness that I might be judged differently because I was a woman. Looking back, I’m not sure whether that was naivety, confidence or simply the result of being brought up to believe I had every right to be in the room. In truth, it was probably a mix of all three.

Throughout my career, I have also been lucky to work in women dominated businesses, often with strong female leaders at the helm. That has shaped my experience too. I have seen women lead, build businesses, challenge ideas, make decisions and create opportunities, so in many ways I have always had visible examples of what female leadership can look like.

That may be why one moment at the Elevate Network session stayed with me. When I arrived, someone asked whether I felt nervous. “Surely we all do,” she said. The honest answer was no.

Perhaps that is the drama graduate in me. Perhaps it is outward confidence. Or perhaps it is because I genuinely believe that most people want the best for each other, and that most of us, most of the time, are feeling many of the same things. I love meeting new people, hearing their stories and finding out how they ended up where they are, what they care about and what they have learned along the way.

That is not to say I have not experienced challenges, because of course I have. But I have not always been sure those challenges stemmed from being a woman. Often, they felt more like a clash of perspectives, experiences or priorities. And, rightly or wrongly, I have always felt able to share my viewpoint. That probably comes from my mum.

What the session reminded me is that confidence is not the same for everyone. Some people arrive with it. Some people build it gradually. Some people need the right network, the right manager or the right conversation to help them see the value of what they already bring.

That is why I am looking forward to being part of the Construction Inclusion Coalition. For Unhooked, it feels like a natural space to be in. We are an agency of women with years of experience in and around construction, building materials and the built environment. We know how interesting this sector is, how much variety it offers and how much creativity and problem-solving sit behind the products, projects and businesses that shape it. We also know that, from the outside, it is not always easy to see that.

If we can play even a small part in helping more women build confidence, share their views and see the opportunities in construction and STEM-related careers, then that feels worthwhile. One of the things I learned at a young age is that this sector is full of ideas, innovation and quite simply, is the world around us.