What is your current job?

National Busines Development Manager

What job did you want to do when you were younger?

I wanted to be a PE teacher.

Describe a typical day in your current job

Meeting with consultants and customers on a daily basis, having conversions in terms of programmes, construction, health & safety and general operation. I also go on site from time to visit our employees. The industry is changing and it’s fantastic to see more female Quantity Surveyors, Architects and many other roles joining the construction industry.

Why did you choose construction as a career?

I didn't, it choose me.

Did you have any reservations or concerns about joining the industry as a woman? Have these changed?

Oh, I certainly did. As a young 18-year-old girl, I joined QS practices; that experience was very different from the way things are now. The female/male divide was certainly more prevalent then.

After that, I worked as a Business Development Manager in Roofing/FM/Painting firm, which unfortunately, wasn’t much different. You were certainly pigeonholed as less capable as a woman in the industry back then.

Fast forward to Morris & Spottiswood, I was unsure at first, as I felt my dyslexia may hinder me. How wrong I was! I have found Morris & Spottiswood to be a very supportive workplace. On a personal level historically, I have found some men tend to feel threatened by capable women, however, that has not been the case here.

What do you feel is the biggest challenge of being a woman working within construction?

For me, it is sometimes harder as a woman to gain credibility. I know I am capable, but it is easy for doubt to drift in, don't let it.

As a Business Development Manager, it's challenging as people don't necessarily know what the job entails, it's often regarded as a cushy job - simply out to lunches, dinners and events. That's tough, and I shouldn't have to explain myself; my performance should be the way I am judged, not outdated assumptions. Happy to say, this has definitely lessened over the last 10 years or so.

What is the favourite part of your job?

I love my job and the people I work with. They are a wonderful bunch. My job has a social side, dinners, lunches, entertainment, learning about people and building new relationships. I also enjoy showing our achievements as a company and taking clients to projects we have completed, or that are still in progress. It's terrific to meet up with the teams on site, and it gives clients an excellent flavour of the type of company we are. I also love it when we receive awards for our projects, it gives me a huge buzz.

What's been the biggest surprise since joining the construction industry?

A tough one to answer. I joined Woman in Property (WYP) and regularly participate in discussions around the table of women who still struggle to prove themselves as equals! There is no need to burn your bra in order to be independent and valued, it is important to understand that we are equally competent in the same jobs and careers as men. There is still a stigma, but we are working on it.

Would you recommend a career in construction to women? Why?

Yes, I definitely would. There are so many jobs available; Quantity Surveyor, Project Manager, Business Development Manager, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Not only that, in Morris & Spottiswood we encourage women in trade roles and other site based roles through our apprentice or degree programmes - so don't discount these roles as 'men only'.

Do you have any advice for any woman who's currently thinking about coming into the construction industry?

Go for it, it is rewarding and amazing when you succeed.