Milton Keynes Developer promises to tackle equality in construction head on

Assistant Site Manager Francesca Denny

Ahead of International Women’s Day on Monday 8th March, leading developer Barratt and David Wilson Homes is encouraging more women to consider a career in the construction industry, with a variety of roles available across Milton Keynes.

Whilst female construction workers have increased steadily over the past 12 years, the proportion of women in the industry is still significantly lower, something which the housebuilder is keen to change. Research figures from the union for construction workers, GMB, showed that if the rate of female employees continues to rise at the rate it is now, women won’t equal men until 2194[1].

Francesca Denny, Assistant Site Manager at the housebuilder’s Fairfields development in Milton Keynes, is keen to highlight the different career paths women can take within the sector.

She said: “I chose to pursue this career because I wanted something that was challenging – both mentally and physically – varied, and where I could feel proud of the work that I’d achieved. The housebuilding industry offered all of these.

“There may fewer women currently working onsite, but that doesn’t mean we’re any less capable of delivering a quality product. It just makes us more determined to succeed.

“Whilst there are times where you will find yourself covered in mud, this perceived ‘negative’ is far outweighed by the positives of the job – the satisfaction that you have handed over a quality product to a happy customer.

“My advice to women looking to join the industry would be to just do it. There is nothing stopping you – especially your gender. It’s a really rewarding career with great progression.”

With a number of female employees already in a range of roles across the company, the housebuilder is reminding women from all skill sets of the different roles available and is encouraging them to put their experience to the industry.

 

According to the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the growing housing and infrastructure workload requires the UK to attract 400,000 more recruits a year to meet current industry needs, which equates to one recruit every 77 seconds.[2]

 

Amer Alkhalil, Managing Director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes Northampton, said: “We want to quash the age old stereotype that the construction industry is a male dominated field as we have many women who work out on site as well as in office based roles.

 

“As a leading housebuilder we are fully aware that one of the largest issues surrounding diversity in construction is the number of female employees working within the sector and the current gender imbalance it faces.

“With a range of departments within the company, we want to remind women that there are a variety of different roles that can be offered within the business that have great benefits and excellent opportunities for career progression.”

Some roles within the industry include:

  • Based out on site – Electricians, Plasterers, Engineers, Fork-lift Driver, Scaffolders, Bricklayers, Site Manager, Contracts Manager
  • Based at Head Office – Architectural Technician, Surveyors, Land and Planning Managers, Estimator, Buyer, Finance Administrator

To find out more about career opportunities available, visit www.barrattcareers.co.uk/.

For more information about Barratt and David Wilson Homes, visit the website at www.barratthomes.co.uk or www.dwh.co.uk. For sales enquiries, please call 033 3355 8481 or 033 3355 8482.

 

 

[1] https://www.gmb.org.uk/news/gender-equality-construction-will-take-200-years

 

[2] https://www.rics.org/uk/news-insight/latest-news/news-opinion/an-opportunity-to-diversify-the-workforce/