Bringing more women into construction

November 8, 2019 / Keith Osborne
Bringing more women into construction

Tracey Forbes-Taylor, regional managing director of Miller Homes Southern, shares her thoughts on how the sector can continue to attract more women into the workforce.

In 2016, it was reported that the divide between men and women in the construction sector had hit an all-time low, with the split 87-13 in favour of men. However, the industry has been taking steps to address the imbalance.

While figures demonstrate there has been a shift, latest reports from the Office of National Statistics show that women now make up 28% of the UK construction workforce. Clearly, there are still strides to be made before the industry achieves greater equality.

To accomplish this, we need to target the next generation. Construction and homebuilding may not be an obvious choice for young people when they are beginning to think about their future career options, so starting the conversation early is important for the sector as a whole. Beyond this, misconceptions of roles within the industry then need to be banished in order to open it up as an option for both men and women.

To help, women flying high in construction need to be made visible. Steps such as visiting schools and colleges and promoting the opportunities and career paths available, are a great way to start. As well as showcasing the office-based roles such as surveyors and sales managers, the ‘on-site’ jobs such as bricklayers, joiners and site managers should also be highlighted – roles that are currently lacking female representation. With this early action, we can begin to break down preconceptions and inspire the workforce of the future.

Outside of education, companies can increase visibility by highlighting women in their roles using media and press opportunities. Miller Homes is proud to employ highly skilled women across various departments, ranging from surveyors and sales, to land buyers and lawyers. We always make an effort to celebrate their success, promotions and appointments both internally and externally.

From my very first day in the industry, I was dedicated to proving to myself that I could make my way up the career ladder. Entering the sector as a personal assistant to the regional chairman of another housebuilder, I had the opportunity to observe my colleagues, ask questions and learn so much about the role. During those years, I worked as hard as I could to gain the experience and knowledge I needed to move up. Over time, I rose to sales administrator, sales manager, sales director, operations director and eventually regional managing director, proving that it is possible for females to have a successful career in homebuilding.

I made sure I was involved in every department so I could understand exactly how each division operated and how my team’s work filtered into the final project.

With all this experience and knowledge, I finally secured my current role as regional managing director of the Miller Homes Southern office, which covers Banbury and Tetbury in the West, Oxfordshire down in the south and West Sussex. My position now incorporates the whole housebuilding process from land buying, development design and budget setting, to cost control, sales and construction. I am also involved in internal matters like recruitment and supporting employee engagement.

I’ve now been working in the profession for over two decades, and my advice for those thinking of a career in construction, whether you are male or female, is to just go for it. The beauty of working in homebuilding specifically is helping people realise their dreams of home ownership, and I’m honoured to be in a position where I can see this happening on a day-to-day basis.

The homebuilding sector has a wide range of professional opportunities covering a number of departments, including land, commercial and technical roles, so it’s important to keep an open mind and also do your research before setting on your chosen career. Some will require a degree while others may just need experience, transferable skill sets and a willingness to learn.

In my opinion, diversity is critical for the industry, and increasing the visibility of women in construction, starting from the grass roots, could help to close the gender gap. Representation is essential for young people so they can make an informed decision on the future, and open their eyes to the many fruitful careers that could be waiting for them and I’m pleased to be part of that conversation.

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