08/03/2021
Laura Dowden
What is your current job?
I’m an Administrator for the Glasgow Fitout and Housing divisions. I assist the Flooring division and provide Reception support as required.
What job did you want to do when you were younger?
I always wanted to take care of people. So, I worked in Healthcare for several years before returning to office work.
Describe a typical day in your current job
A typical day would be providing admin support to the Glasgow Fitout & Housing teams, both on site and office based. Uploading drawings, project information, and disseminate this to the relevant people. I’m responsible for printing and compiling new projects and enquiry packs, and also assembling site folders and producing the relevant signage for each site. Contacting sub-contractors to collect and collate O&M Manuals for the completed projects.
Why did you choose construction as a career?
Working in Construction is different than most other office environments I have worked in. I provide support to a much larger, diverse team. The variety of projects can be extremely interesting.
Did you have any reservations or concerns about joining the industry as a woman? Have these changed?
I did not have any reservations or concerns and I still feel the same way.
What do you feel is the biggest challenge of being a woman working within construction?
I think the women that work on site may have to face more challenges. Working within the office, I’ve fortunately never had any issues working within construction.
What is the favourite part of your job?
I love working with such a diverse group of people within and out with the company. You get to meet and talk to people from all sorts of backgrounds and workplaces.
What’s been the biggest surprise since joining the construction industry?
I must be honest and say I haven’t had any big surprises in this industry. Guess I’m lucky.
Would you recommend a career in construction to women? Why?
I would recommend a career in construction to anyone. It is an interesting and varied career, working on different projects. There are many different opportunities available if you are interested in adapting and increasing your skills.
Do you have any advice to any woman who’s currently thinking about coming into the construction industry?
It’s a great industry to work within.