In the UK just 13% of the construction industry is made up of women. In 2018 a study found that for every female apprentice in construction there were 50 males. In 2022 only 1,561 (0.82%) of women were vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians compared to 191,704 (99.19%) of men. Why is this? Many factors such as stereotyping, and lack of education and opportunities given in schools and colleges contribute to these figures. The same information and opportunities need to be provided to young professionals to tackle gender dominated industries. To recognise International Women’s Day, we asked the women on our Co.next advisory board a few questions. Kelly Cartwright, Owner of CORE Recruiter What inspired you to take the career path you’ve taken so far? Not going to lie, it was a bit of fluke… but I wouldn’t change it for the world. What do you think is the biggest challenge for women in business? You are always on the back foot, because of your gender, people automatically assume you arent as deserving as a fellow male equivalent. I have had to go above and beyond, undertake extra qualifications to almost prove I am what I say I am, and no about construction. I am not the dolly bird, people assume I am. When I attend awards/events with my husband, people always assume it’s his business and I am just there for a free night out! What advice would you give someone looking to join your field of work? You will not regret getting into construction, or recruitment for that matter. But do not let the gender stereotypes define what industry you should go in to. Always remember, you will come across people who will want to see you fail, and try to pull you down at every opportunity – but use that as motivation. Who is your female role model? Karren Brady – what a woman!! Lauren Farley, Business Development & Events Coordinator at Norwich Theatre What inspired you to take the career path you’ve taken so far? I’ve always been passionate about the arts after studying Drama at university, so in some ways I always hoped I’d work in the sector again but I didn’t really know how or in what guise that would take, after hanging up my acting shoes. I was lucky enough a number of years ago to go and work with the Writers’ Centre Norwich (now the National Centre for Writing) which was not only my first foray back into a creative industry, but also to events in general. It was here I discovered a love of events, and I became inspired to continue on that path through my next three roles. I now feel unbelievably lucky to be able to actually work in an area where I can combine both my professional experience with something I am very passionate about, so I think the inspiration really was around how could I work within an industry I was passionate about, but also contributing in a way that lent itself to my skillset and what I could do best. What advice would you give someone looking to join your field of work? I think my biggest advice would be to show your enthusiasm for the field and get stuck in. I think whilst it’s important to have boundaries, saying yes to new things and getting stuck in to as many parts of your business can only be a good thing. The more you learn and understand, the better team member you can be. I’ve always been curious about finding out as much as I can about different areas of the business, which inevitably all play a really important part in how the business runs in general. So I think being interested in your business and how your role plays into that and saying yes to new opportunities. Who is your female role model? I don’t have a specific female role model as such, I think to be honest I am more inspired by what my female friends are doing, and I am inspired by their successes. Having a group of friends who are mums, who have different family commitments, who run businesses, who are business leaders, all of them inspire me, because I find the biggest inspiration is just in women supporting women and encouraging us all to succeed. Nicolle Matthews, Strategic Planning Executive at Group Lotus What inspired you to take the career path you’ve taken so far? Insatiable curiosity and an unwavering desire to realise my potential. I am a firm believer that you can do anything you put your mind to and transferable skills have been so important as they have allowed me to move between functions and industries and apply that generalist knowledge to my Executive MBA. Having moved from Oil & Gas, Engineering Consultancy, Business Consultancy, and into Manufacturing it is clear that businesses, regardless of sector, face the same challenges and my passion is around problem-solving and driving growth through sustainable strategies to deliver the greatest value for not just an organisation but also their stakeholders. What do you think is the biggest challenge for women in business? Discovering who they are and leading with authenticity, this isn’t a challenge solely faced by women, but I find that we still see and experience challenges from the archaisms of past eras and a lack of infrastructure in organisational design that really harnesses the different skills females bring, but also naturally unites male and female colleagues for the common purpose. Emotion and self-awareness isn’t a negative thing, working cohesively and actively listening to others for consensus isn’t a weakness, but these are the things that are quoted when we see women being held back. What advice would you give someone looking to join your field of work? Work on yourself as well as your professional goals, you will face challenges and rejection when fighting for what you want in the business so make sure you have a steady foundation and an assurance that encourages you to speak up. Build a support network of likeminded individuals who will give you honest feedback, and always ask for what you want. You are your biggest advocate. Who is your female role model? My mum, she was dealt so much hardship and at times absolute grief and I watched her manage it all with grace and a resilience that she instilled in me. She has been my biggest supporter, my rock, and my best friend throughout my academic and professional journeys and I am inspired by her every day.
