Did you know that women make up just 16% of the UK construction workforce? This week (3-9 March) is Women in Construction Week – an opportunity to celebrate the strength and knowledge of women in the industry. We sat down with Yvonne Westhead-Fyles, our Director of Development, Growth & Sales, to chat about her experience of being a woman in construction and why we should be doing more to champion females into the sector.
How did your career in construction begin?
My friend’s dad was a construction site manager and he used to let us visit his sites when we were younger. I enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the site atmosphere (apparently health and safety in the 80s wasn’t as it is now!) and it really sparked an interest and excitement in me.
I always loved maths, law and technology, so combining this with my interest in building, I did a Quantity Surveying Degree at university – and that’s where my career in construction began.
What roles have you been in?
I’ve been in roles including quantity surveyor, project manager and head of development, and have worked in most sectors from retail and education through to the residential sector. I then joined Livv in 2020 as Director of Development, Growth and Sales to drive our work in the new build field.
What do you think are the biggest challenges of being a woman in the industry?
It’s always been male dominated. This has improved over time as there are more females on site and in consultant roles now but there’s still a long way to go.
I was always in the minority; from sitting in lecture theatres to being the only woman out on site and at site meetings. This was overwhelming at the start, but I learnt that you can’t let gender be a barrier. I concentrated on being part of a team and being the best I could be. If you’ve got the skills, knowledge and expertise then you’ll earn respect for that.
Your team are predominantly female – can you tell us more?
In the Development, Sales & Leasehold Team, there are 18 of us and 13 are female. This is something that I’m really proud of. Roles range from myself as director, through to sales advisors, project managers, co-ordinators and apprentices. Again, this just proves that if you’ve got the right skills and knowledge to do your job, gender shouldn’t come into the equation.
How can we be championing more women into the sector?
Raising awareness, sharing stories, inspiring each other and the next generation. I think that’s why weeks like Women in Construction Week are so important.
We have a massive skills shortage across the sector so it’s crucial now more than ever that we’re promoting the opportunities available both in construction and housing. I’m really proud that we’re (Livv) supporting the ‘Not Just Men and Muddy Boots Campaign’ , I hope it’ll encourage and inspire young females particularly.
What do you enjoy most about working in construction?
When a plan comes together! From a plan on a page to eventually seeing the building in use – being involved in that whole process from the ground up is really rewarding. For our customers, seeing them move into their homes and the positive impact it has on them – the feedback that the team receive is lovely to hear. I also love the fact that every day is different and brings new challenges.
What advice would you give to a woman interested in getting started in the industry?
The construction sector offers a diverse range of opportunities and roles and is a fantastic sector to build a career. My advice would be to be yourself, be open-minded and give it your all – then the opportunities really are limitless.