The developers of a brand new estate in northern Devon say they aren’t simply building homes, but a more equal workforce. The Chartered Institute of Building reports that in the U.K. women still only make up 15 percent of the industry as a whole, with just two percent working on site. Bovis’ Homes’ Bay View development in Northam has a site team made up of an electrician, carpenter, apprentice assistant site manager, senior quantity surveyor, buyer, area sales manager and sales consultant.
Annabel Halsted from Merton is 24 and an electrician who stated, “I hope more women choose construction as a career path to help address the balance – it’s a great place to work.” Meanwhile, Tarryn Lowth has worked as a buyer for eight years; Rachel Eke has been a sales consultant, and Beverly Rickard an are sales manager in the industry for 22 years.
Vistry Group places a large emphasis on addressing the imbalance and has an active Diversity and Inclusion working group and committee, that promotes equality and represents minority groups with thirty four percent of the company represented by females.
Sales and marketing director, Emma Smith added, “It’s fantastic to see a high female presence at Bay View and I hope more women are inspired to join the housebuilding industry with its diverse range of jobs – from engineering manager to land buyer, marketing assistant to site manager.”
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