International Women’s Day 2022

08 Mar 2022

In celebration of International Women’s Day and Women in Construction Week 2022, we asked women from across our business about their journeys into the industry.

Here, they share their stories and tips for success:

Anna, Graduate Site Manager

“A-levels weren’t for me, and I did three years training as a joiner after my GCSEs.

I’d never wanted to go to uni, but I didn’t want to be a full-time joiner either, so I bit the bullet and did a Construction Management degree after qualifying from college.

This opened new doors, and I landed a spot on J.Murphy & Sons’ Graduate Construction Managers’ Scheme.

The best thing about a graduate scheme is the sheer amount of training you get access to. I never stopped putting my hand up for courses.

But training doesn’t stop parts of the job being daunting when you’re new.

Site management is a learning process, so the key thing is to ask a lot of questions. Be open with people, and don’t be afraid to say when you don’t know something.

Every day on site is different, which makes the job challenging, but also exciting.

At McAuliffe, I’m learning the full project lifecycle, from tendering through to site handover, so I can eventually start running my own sites. Developing your skills is so important in this job – you can always do things better.”

Sophie, ADT Driver

“Even though my dad and sister have always worked out on site, I’d never even considered it.

“Until lockdown hit, I was determined to become a hairdresser, and was in the middle of an apprenticeship in Wolverhampton. Of course, things didn’t quite go to plan, so I found a temporary job as a cleaner on McAuliffe’s HS2 Curzon Street project.

“That’s when I started getting really interested in machines.

“The culture onsite was just so good. I saw how, as a driver or plant op, you get your own space and independence, but everyone is there to help if you need it. It started feeling like I was seeing friends every day.

“I took the plunge, and got my ADT ticket last July.

“Even though it’s normally more of a man’s environment, I’d tell anyone who’s interested in the job to give it a go. Since I became a driver, quite a few of my friends have said they’d like to have a try – we can do it just as well as men can.

“I’m already getting interested in the dozers, and want to get more experience on different machines while I work my way up at McAuliffe.

 “The business now has five female ADT drivers, and counting. People’s perceptions are changing, and I’m proud to be a part of that.”

Francesca, Head of HR

“I worked in retail throughout university, and got promoted to store supervisor after I graduated.

The supervisor job taught me what I enjoy most: getting the best engagement from staff, recruiting, and working with data. HR seemed the obvious career choice, and I started searching for temporary placements in offices.

That was when I found McAuliffe.

The team gave me a two-week placement, which quickly turned into a full-time receptionist job – exposing me to everything from finance and commercial, to haulage and contracting. The only thing missing was an in-house HR department…

I seized my opportunity, and spoke to the directors about my career aspirations. They offered to support me through my HR studies, while trusting me to implement core projects, such as rolling out a cloud-based HR system.

In four years, McAuliffe has taken me from receptionist to Head of HR.

I think the construction industry is an untapped resource of career potential. Working at McAuliffe has opened up a wealth of opportunities and – if I hadn’t chosen HR – I could have gone into commercial, finance, projects, or working on site.”

Michaela, Apprentice Haulage Controller

“If you’d asked me what I wanted to do with my career a couple of years ago, I’d have definitely said childcare. 

“But then, after leaving school, I spotted a job ad for an apprentice receptionist/administrator at McAuliffe, and thought ‘why not?’. 

“I’d worked in bars before, so this was my first time in an office. Working in a busy reception helps you learn quickly, and I found myself doing a bit of everything – plant, haulage, HR, health & safety, booking hotels.

“With commercial and haulage tasks, something just clicked. I’m an organised person, and really enjoyed managing things like invoices and haulage tickets, as well as learning about different types of materials and treatments. Every site is different.  

“I moved into a commercial role and I’m loving it. It’s been busy balancing work and college, but I finish my apprenticeship soon, and I’m excited for what’s next. Especially working with our commercial manager to learn more about how the reports I produce affect bigger business decisions.”