Supporting Women in Construction

This Sunday (06th March) marks the start of Women in Construction Week, an initiative which shines a spotlight on women working across the construction supply chain.

At Kubota, we are incredibly proud to support Women in Construction Week and the important work it does to both highlight the fantastic work of women already in the sector and encourage others to pursue a career in such a rewarding industry.

We take our commitment to equality very seriously and strive to ensure fair representation of women across every facet of our business. To celebrate this year’s WiC Week, we have spoken to a variety of women to find out a little more about what first led them to a career in construction, and what advice they have to those just starting out in the sector.

Nicola Taylor – P.V Dobson

What made you want to consider a career in construction?

To be honest, I didn’t! But after successfully applying for an administrative position at Vibroplant PLC in Kendal in 1992, I was hooked!

Being a city girl from Glasgow, with previous experience as an Exhibition & Conference Co-Ordinator, I knew I would soon be trading suits and heels for waistcoats and steel-toe capped boots!

With Vibroplant, I was trained and tested on all specifications of machines, even 80’ Scissor Lifts – an experience in itself! After my administration role, I was promoted to Hire Co-Ordinator and, eventually, onto Sales Exec.

By 1997, I took on the demanding and exciting role of Hire Manager at Ashtead Plant Hire in Kendal, which covered the full range of construction equipment. After many years at Ashtead, I was offered the unexpected opportunity to join PV Dobson as Operations Manager – allowing me to further my experience in the construction sector.

What is the best thing about working with Kubota?

 Joining PV Dobson was my first experience with Kubota, but I was welcomed into Kubota Operational Support with open arms. This has allowed me to build new relationships and further my knowledge of the machines we have in the field. I am never short of help!

Do you have any advice for young women considering a career in construction?

 Whether it’s an admin, engineering, parts or service role within an organisation, I would advise young women to sign up for an apprenticeship and learn while doing the job. There are more women in the industry that when I joined 30 years and it’s easy to see why. We’ll always need construction, so it’s an everlasting career path that is rewarding too!

What else could the construction industry be doing to encourage more women into the sector?

It’s important to highlight that the construction sector is vast – it’s not all about machinery. There are many roles, from coordinators to surveyors to estimators, so it’s worth highlighting these.

I would also encourage organisations to engage directly with schools and colleges, to make sure they’re promoting the benefits of a career in construction to young women.

Beverley Luscombe – Luscombe Plant Hire

 What made you want to consider a career in construction?

20 years ago, my husband and son started hiring out the machinery they had for their other business. As this hire service grew, there was a need for somebody to take charge of the office – a responsibility it made sense for me to assume. We were able to cultivate the friendly customer service we are known for today.

A few years later, my daughter Julie joined the company to help me in the day to day running of the office.

What’s the best thing about working with Kubota?

Hiring out Kubota excavators makes my job easier due to the reliability and usability of the machines. We are often asked by newer customers how easy the machines to use, and we can say with confidence that our Kubota machines will always perform.

Do you have any advice for young women considering a career in construction?

The advice I would give is to believe in change and to always stand up for themselves. A good sense of humour would also be beneficial. We are very lucky to work in an area that already has women working in leading roles in the construction, and hopefully this shift will continue throughout the UK and we will see more women step confidently into the role.

What else could the construction industry be doing to encourage more women into the construction sector?

 Better and more inclusive training, with easier access, is essential to encouraging more women into the construction sector. Also a change in culture regarding flexible working hours would benefit women who are working hard while supporting families. Something like this is so important not just to women but all hard working parents who deserve an opportunity in the industry.

Fenella Tolhurst – Kubota UK

What made you want to consider a career in construction?

Personally, I was interested in the role at first and then found out more about the company, its history and the industry. My job involves looking after customers, customer relationships, dealing with suppliers and co-ordinating between internal departments to ensure we meet customer expectations, much of this experience I had gained in security and logistics industries.

What’s the best thing about working with Kubota?

It’s a long-established market leading manufacturer. Dealing with many great customers and suppliers means that every day is different.

It’s always good to work for a market leader, to sell a quality product with a great reputation.

Do you have any advice for young women considering a career in construction?

Go for it! Construction is a growing industry and I personally feel having a mix of men and women brings different strengths, experience and opinions to the table. There are many women I know who have great transferable skills that could really shine in construction.

Product knowledge and experience can be gained in any industry.

What else could the construction industry be doing to encourage more women into the sector?

More information available to young women in school about apprenticeships and opportunities within construction and engineering.

Recruitment events and social media highlighting the type of roles some of the women in our business do, may help too.