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International Women's Day: Behind Every Great Builders Merchant...


 
The construction industry is traditionally dominated by men, but women are hammering down barriers and cementing their place in the field, from architects and engineers to project managers and skilled tradespeople, women are now playing key roles in all aspects of the construction industry. 
 

Historically, women have been underrepresented in the industry due to a variety of reasons, including social and cultural biases, lack of access to training and education, and discrimination in the workplace. However, with a growing focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, more and more women are finding opportunities. 

A massive 2.1 million people in the UK are employed in the construction industry, but according to the UK government's Annual Business Survey, women only account for around 14% of the construction workforce. 

We’re proud to say that at Elliotts 23% of our employees are women, which is an achievement in itself when looking at the industry standard, but what’s greater is that year on year we are welcoming more women to the business, with 2023 seeing a 5% increase on previous years. 

We spoke to some of the incredible women behind Elliotts and asked them to share their thoughts on working in this industry, here's what they had to say...
 
 
Having moved across from the DIY industry to the building industry 18 months ago I was interested to see what the differences might be. What I have experienced so far is that there are a lot of strong tenacious women both internally and externally that drive the industry forward and gender isn't really a factor; it's all about showing up and doing a good job and supporting one another along the way!’’
 
Hayley Straker, Sales Hub Manager

I’m early in my career at Elliott's, but I’m fortunate in that I am amongst such hard-working,
supportive women every day.
 
Ellie Ingram, Joinery Sales Consultant

As I approach my 50-year anniversary with Elliotts, I can say that women are now much more involved in the building industry - I have seen many changes over the years.
 
Over 40 years ago it was a male dominated industry, and it was much harder for a woman to be taken seriously and take on roles alongside men. I was very lucky to have been given an opportunity to do this, and I hope it has helped other women build a successful career."
 
Lauren Haines, Head of Sales Hub

From our now Head of Sales Hub, Lauren, who started at Elliotts as a Typist, to Louise our Chandler’s Ford Yard Foreman, it’s amazing to see so many women at Elliotts, many of whom are in senior roles, as well as those just starting out in their career.
 
Our Unlimited Learning benefit allows training and education opportunities to everyone at Elliotts to advance their careers and grow with the business, and it’s great to see so many women at Elliotts achieve success from this. 
 
If you’re looking for support in the industry, then there are some amazing organisations that offer mentorship from other women in construction, such as the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) and Women in Construction Operations (WiOPS), who can provide valuable networking opportunities and resources for women in the construction industry. 
 
If you’re interested in joining us at Elliotts, we have a number of career opportunities available: Building futures - Elliotts 

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