With a number of awards to her name and wide recognition of her skills and pride in the work she does, we are delighted to speak to Katie Smith about being a bricklaying apprentice with Jelson Homes and the secrets of her career success.
Please tell us a little about yourself and your bricklaying career so far.
I’m almost 30, and currently studying my Level 3 Advanced. Last year I won the regional Prince’s Trust Young Achiever of the Year award and also won the On The Tools Apprentice of the Year award for my bricklaying skill and for turning my life around after growing up in the care system. I love my job and I hope In some way by me sharing my passion for brickwork and being on site, I can try to encourage more females into the trade.
How is working for your Level 3 different from what you’ve done before?
I have ADHD so for me to take information is a little more difficult than others. I struggle with concentration but I know if I want it badly enough I’ll get there.
Has your apprenticeship with Jelson Homes been as you’d expected it?
It has been the best almost-three years of my adult life. I have laughed so much and met so many amazing people along the way. At first I was a little apprehensive due to being female but the guys on site are unreal. Wouldn’t change them for the world. Developing my skills from quite early on, learning all areas of my job, from the footings to the gables. I have built corbels – I never thought I’d’ve been able to – and arches and jointed walls where I have stood back and been really proud of the end result. Jelson have been really good in regards to allowing me to do events and led me forward with my career. If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be where I was today, their first-ever female bricklayer since they were established 129 years ago.
What’s the highlight of your working life so far?
It’s how proud I feel of my work and how much other people comment. I’m a people-pleaser and I take lot of pride in my work, and if it’s noticed and pointed out it makes me feel good.
Was it something in particular that inspired you to start a blog about your work?
I decided to start a blog because I’m the only female on site. Once I won my awards last year I was being booked for events and it wasn’t until then I discovered I was a bit of a “rarity”. So I wanted to try and start doing things to get more women interested and involved, and show them that one way or another, site life really is doable and it’s not all that scary.
Being a woman in bricklaying, you’re well outnumbered by men – how could the industry attract a bigger female skills workforce?
Positive influences and female groups! Blogs and social media are all great ways of trying to promote and attract females into construction! Holding events worldwide that show videos and other females who also work onsite. Listening to first-hand experience and not just seeing a girl on a poster in a pink hard hat could come in handy, too.
Do you have advice for young people considering construction/housebuilding careers?
If I could say anything to the younger generation it would be to get into construction, get yourself a good trade and you’ll always be set up for life, not only that, if you want to go on to Level 3, 4 and HNC. The opportunities that will always be around will be endless and you can take it anywhere around the world.
With your skills right now, what ambitions do you have?
I’d like to do a number of things. I’d like the chance to go and see how different countries do different builds. Learn new things, gain my Level 3 and maybe Level 4, try stonemasonry and be involved with the one of unique builds as I think there truly stunning. In the long run, eventually I’d like to open an enterprise for teens who are struggling with being in a classroom. They can then come and work alongside me and others to learn a trade before they get lost in the system and possibly end up with no qualifications or unemployed.
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