In celebration of International Women’s Day on Tuesday 8th March, housebuilder Allison Homes is encouraging women to consider careers in the construction industry.
Construction has long been a male-dominated industry, with Statista reporting in 2020 that only 13 per cent of the UK workforce was female1.
Technical Co-ordinators at Allison Homes Dani Oleksow-Bunten, aged 22, and Jasmine Holmes, aged 27, both work at Allison Homes’ head office in Bourne, and would love to see more women working alongside them.
Dani, who is from Peterborough and now lives in Spalding, said: “Throughout my career in construction, I have been very lucky in not experiencing many negative assumptions as a result of being female.
“It’s so important to encourage women into construction, especially by reaching out to schools, as this is how I knew that housebuilding was an industry I could consider. It would be refreshing to see more women in these jobs and out on building sites!
“Society tends to push women towards female-dominated jobs and industries, and a lack of knowledge around the industry can affect girls’ career choices. My advice to women joining the industry is to be confident, and don’t be afraid to do something different!”
Jasmine, from Spalding, now lives in Bourne and said: “I have always seen housebuilding as a male-dominated industry, however this never deterred me from wanting to do something different with my career. Often, it’s assumed that women want to work in the office and won’t want to visit or work on site, and I don’t think this is true.
“It is incredibly important to encourage women into construction and show they have an important role to play in the industry. Women may not be aware of the varying roles available, as construction and technology skills aren’t often taught and promoted to young girls at schools and colleges – I hadn’t considered either of these professions when I was at school.
“Women should always be true to themselves and be confident knowing their skillsets are important. They should empower other women and know they are paving a new era for the construction industry!”
Samantha Hart, Sales and Marketing Director at Allison Homes, said: “At Allison Homes, it’s very important to us to encourage women to join the construction industry, and to create a diverse workplace. Housebuilding has always been seen as a very male-dominated field, and we want to remind women that there is space for them here too.
“We have a range of different roles within the business, which provide excellent opportunities for career progression, and hope to see many more women pursue careers in construction in the future.”
International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, and is dedicated to promoting equality. This year, the theme is #BreakTheBias.
