Celebrating International Women's Day

My career in finance started nine years ago with a real passion for business after I graduated in Economic Management. Once my responsibilities increased and I gained a better understanding of accounting, I studied Accounting and Financial Management too. I love the responsibility and stability this role offers, no matter where you live or how the economy is doing, there will always be a need for accountants!

I believe that women can work anywhere, especially in construction. Whether you are a man or a woman, once you do what you love you will deliver your best!

I joined Open in September 2021 as Client Relationship Manager. An old employer of mine asked me where I saw myself in 5 year’s time and I said, “I’d like to be a manager”, to my surprise just 5 months after I manifested this, I started my new role at Open!

Joining post COVID was an interesting time, as the world was still very uncertain. But thankfully now in March 2023 the world seems to be almost ‘back to normal’ and I’m enjoying being able to meet our clients and experience the fun side of being a Client Relationship Manager.

My advice for a woman considering a career in construction is give it a try, you’ll never know if construction is the right path for you until you go for it. It might feel intimidating at first but the more women who take the leap to become a Surveyor, a Project Manager, a Site Manager, a Labourer, or any job within the industry, the smaller the gap between men and women in construction will be.

While completing my BSc Business Management degree back in 2018 I was working in the property sector and after I graduated, the role at Open came along as an exciting opportunity to start working in marketing and to become a woman working in construction. Now I help Open achieve its strategic objectives by coordinating various marketing actions with a big focus on digital marketing. The re-branding campaign that we launched in 2019 was a real success and after four years we are proud that we’ve established a recognisable brand in the construction industry.

Digital marketing is a fast paced environment that constantly pushes me to learn new trends. And I combine these trends with data analysis to help Open stay present on social media channels and to have a positive influence on our online followers.

I have learned many interesting facts about our business by visiting our project sites, where Open creates spaces. In the beginning, it felt a bit of a challenge to be on a male-dominated construction site, but luckily, our amazing team was always very supportive with me and I soon realised that “I’ve got this”!

To any woman who wishes for a career in construction I’d say find what you love doing and be passionate about it – it makes everything easier for you.

I started my career in construction, over 20 years ago, working for a national housebuilder in the sales team. From there I moved into document control for a top tier construction company and after finding my love for all things site based, I quickly moved into Site Management after completing my HNC in Construction Management.

I had a short career break while I had my children and now, I am back into construction albeit in a slightly different role, one which offers me much more flexibility which is needed when you are a working parent.

The thing I love the most about construction is the busy, fast-paced environment. Every day can be different and you need to think on your toes. It can also be challenging when dealing with things you may not fully understand yet but never be afraid to ask questions. With so many different career options for women in construction it is easy to find one that suits you and that you will enjoy working in.

I have been a Project Manager for Open since 2018.  My background has always been within the property sector and nearly 20 years ago whilst working for a high-end Interior Design firm I took on a more involved role in the delivery of residential and commercial installation projects.

What I love about my work is the variety, as no day is ever the same.

A Project Manager’s role is full of challenges and every project is different, so you continue to grow.  It is important to maintain an open mind and never be afraid to ask about what you don’t yet know.

There is such a huge array of roles within the Construction Industry, there really is something for everybody. It’s all about finding an environment that utilises your own unique skill set.

I joined Open in 2017 to help our Managing Director (who is also my husband) achieve his ambitious and exciting plans for growing the business. As Operations Director, my role encompasses a variety of different responsibilities mainly focused on ensuring we’re working as efficiently and effectively as possible in an ever-changing and challenging world.

I enjoy the fact that I get to work with a great team of people in a fabulous office space. Introducing new ways of working so we could become more flexible and grow as a business was probably my greatest challenge and is ongoing as we’ve just introduced a new HR system! As always, the key to any change process is clear communication and leading by example. What have I learned? That people can and do enjoy change once they see the benefits.

And to any woman entering a role in construction, I would say just be yourself, trust your instincts, and enjoy what you do.