Today we are celebrating the work and achievements of women within our team and across the construction industry on #internationalwomensday2023.
We are proud to have an inclusive and diverse team that boasts many talented female colleagues throughout our business, from Assistant Quantity Surveyors to Project Managers.
This year the event focuses on embracing equity, promoting a culture of fairness and inclusion, specifically in education.
The UN’s theme this year is “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality” and the need for inclusive digital education and improved early access to digital tools for young people.
We asked some women working in our business how important technology is within their roles and how important they felt it is to ensure early access to technology for young people, especially young women.
After getting her first taste of the industry at 16 during a week’s work experience Niamh Jackson started with QOB as an apprentice and following her graduation last year has been promoted to Assisted Quantity Surveyor.
Niamh loves the fact that the industry is constantly changing and becoming more inclusive, her advice to young women considering construction is “don’t be intimidated or scared by the fact its typically a male dominated industry”, as it’s full of “so many different and passionate people.”
Technology forms a big part of Niamh’s role, using Microsoft programmes and measuring software on a daily basis. She believes that early access to technology for young people “is extremely important because the industry is slowly introducing new technologies to the point where one day, everything will be done using digital tools.”
In her role as Bid Design lead Meggan uses technology daily to create engaging responses that appeals to our clients and helps them visualise their spaces. “I love coming up with bid and design plans for our bid documents. I really enjoy researching a client’s brand and Architects look and feel documents to see how I can incorporate those into my work.”
Having worked in construction since she was 19, Meggan believes “Younger women have a lot to bring to this industry, especially construction, but it’s very important that they have early access to technology and digital tools to help them excel and really show their skillset.”
For document controller Lisa, the use of technology is essential for her role, it allows her to work remotely and manage documentation at the click of a button. She really enjoys the variety that her role brings and feels that “there are various positions young women are more than capable of within the industry and if it appeals to them, then they should go for it!"
As someone who has previously worked within education Lisa feels strongly that “giving younger people access to technology and digital tools will promote a deeper understanding and confidence at the beginning of their careers.”
Please feel free to contact the team for advice, work experience, apprenticeship opportunities, and available positions if you're considering a career in construction.
#embraceequity
