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Housebuilder calls for more women to join the construction industry

ByEmily

Mar 13, 2018

With women expected to make up a quarter of all construction workers in the UK by 2020, local housebuilder, Barratt Developments North East is actively calling for more females to consider a career in the industry.   

In the lead up to International Women’s Day on Thursday 8th March, Assistant Site Manager at Barratt Developments, Melanie Crammond shares her experience and career path, which lead to her managing one of the housebuilder’s busiest sites.

“I studied Real Estate Management at Northumbria University and I have always had a keen interest in the property and construction industry. Once I had completed my degree I began gaining the qualifications I needed to become involved with site management, and enrolled to do my first aid course and SMSTS course, both of which were self-funded.

“Before joining Barratt Developments I was a Hire Project Coordinator. This saw me managing the delivery of portable buildings to site, as well as coordinating site surveys and arranging crane hire and transport. I also worked as a Customer Liaison Officer, which I enjoyed, however I was keen to work in a more construction-focused role within the property industry. In 2015 I saw an Assistant Site Manager job advertised on Barratt’s website, which is the role I am now in today.

“At Barratt Developments, my day-to-day role is to be responsible for the management of the site and to oversee both employees and sub-contractors, making sure that standards are maintained and health and safety is adhered to. It’s important to ensure that the work that is being carried out on site is in in line with the scheduled programme and is monitored, with progress plans being updated on a daily basis. My role also includes ordering materials to be delivered to site and inspecting work and properties throughout the various build stages, ensuring that they are of the correct standard and are ready for inspection by the NHBC.

“If you’re looking for a rewarding career then I would strongly advise looking into roles within the construction industry. With such high demand for housing the work is fast paced, but being able to contribute to creating much needed communities and to see the impact of your work is fantastic.

“I would recommend gaining experience through work placements or obtaining qualifications before applying for jobs as I found this really helped me to get where I am today. Pairing experience with qualifications showed employers my dedication and that I was serious about this career path. Barratt Developments offer a number of different pathways into construction careers including apprenticeships, where you can earn as you train, so for young women planning their next step out after school they can be a great way to gain skills in the industry.

“There are so many opportunities for women within housebuilding, both on site and in crucial head office roles. There’s plenty of scope for development and promotion too for those with determination and a positive attitude.”

Scott Martin, Managing Director at Barratt Developments North East, commented: “We believe in working with the very best talent in order to deliver much needed homes and communities within the North East. We’re committed to encouraging diversity in the workplace, whether that’s in our Head Office, within our Sales Teams or on our sites, and we’re proud to have women like Melanie playing such a vital role in continuing our construction in the region.

By increasing awareness of the opportunities available within the industry, we hope that more women will consider the numerous career paths in available in construction.”

For career opportunities or more information on Barratt Developments please visit: www.barrattdevelopments.co.uk

By Emily