THE BIG INTERVIEW
Has there been an increase in women coming into the sector during your tenure? It is definitely improving. We are seeing a more welcoming industry for girls and women in all areas of construction. At Gilbert-Ash, 23% of our workforce is female with 28% of our senior management team being female. However, a challenge remains with the number of females in site roles; we currently have 14% of our females working in site management positions. I firmly believe the future is bright for women in construction. I feel the work being done by Lynn Carvill and her team at WOMEN’STEC and the continuing efforts of Amanda, Ryan, Gail and the team at CITBNI along with the industry’s construction ambassadors are making a difference. The encouragement being given to construction employers to look at their employee base through CEF NI is also making a difference, and I believe together we can ensure our industry is up there amongst the best for young people (girls in particular) when choosing a career path. Have you any recommendations for attracting more women, and skilled workers in general, into the sector? More case studies. With more women sharing their stories and experiences, demonstrating to young girls that this rewarding and challenging industry is the place to be, I think this sends a very powerful message and will encourage others to join. I also feel the introduction of an A level in construction would help as it would encourage more parents and society in general to look more favourably at the professional routes into the industry. We already have a GCSE in construction; to me, it’s the obvious next step. What other issues are facing the NI construction sector? From a HR perspective, the big-ticket issue that comes to my mind is the Department for the Economy’s ‘Good Jobs’ Employment Rights Bill which is currently out for consultation. While the ‘Good Jobs’ agenda involves supporting businesses to grow, building a skills base and strengthening employment legislation, we will have to wait and see what benefits and challenges the Bill will bring to our sector.
Why do you think NI firms such as Gilbert-Ash are securing such high- profile projects across the UK, Ireland and beyond? Putting it very simply - the talent, skills and commitment of the Northern Ireland workforce. We have excellent training being offered in our local schools, colleges and universities, we’ve got some great creative minds, and we are not afraid of tackling the difficult tasks. Last, but not least, we take a pride in our work and we like to see a job well done. How has Gilbert-Ash evolved and what are its stand-out projects? It has been a privilege to be part of the growth and development of Gilbert-Ash over the years and to see it established as a UK-wide construction company with a turnover of £270m. I am, to say the least, very proud of Gilbert-Ash. Some stand-out projects for me over the years have been the Waterfront Hall Belfast, which was officially opened in January 1997, followed by the Lyric Theatre completed in 2011 and the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre completed in May 2012. Both the Lyric and the Giant’s Causeway were very worthy finalists for the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2012 and 2013, but it took the third year for one of our projects to be successful and that was with the wonderful Everyman Theatre in Liverpool in 2014. One other very notable recent project for me has to be the re-development of the National Portrait Gallery completed in June 2023, which has just been shortlisted for this year’s Stirling Prize. What are your interests/hobbies outside of the workplace? I like to read (when I get time). I’ve been in a Book Club for over 10 years now and we’ve worked our way around quite a few books, while not getting too serious or prescriptive about the types of books or authors. I have to say it is sometimes quite nice to read something of a genre I wouldn’t normally read. I also like to walk, and I enjoy time working in the garden. 60 Boucher Place, Belfast BT12 6HT T: +44 (0)28 9066 4334 E: belfast@gilbert-ash.co.uk www.gilbert-ash.com
chemical and food sectors. As Gilbert-Ash grew and developed, so did my career, initially through my involvement in training and quality management. In time, this allowed me to complete my Chartered Membership of the Institute of Personnel & Development and establish the company’s HR Department, which has led me to my current role as HR Director. What attracted you to the construction sector? My interest began, I think, in my early years as I was in and out of our home, which was being rebuilt from lower cill level up. I remember being very much taken with the smell of freshly cut timber, I was fascinated with the staircase going in and, overall, how the house seemed to just come together again. My father worked in the industry at the time, and he could as they say ‘turn his hand’ to anything but I was very much aware of how hard he worked. Are there challenges associated with working in a male-dominated industry? The biggest challenge is the task of raising awareness and encouraging girls and women to take up an exciting, satisfying career in an industry which is open to women as well as men. I would love to see more connectivity between education and industry, I know there is work being done with schools, but I feel there is still a way to go to ensure teachers and schools are supportive of their pupils considering a career in the construction industry. What changes have you seen within the industry? I am delighted to see how much the industry has developed over the years, especially with regards to the health, safety and wellbeing of the construction worker, and I’m proud to be part of an industry that cares about its people. Seeing developments like the establishment of the CSR Card Scheme back in 1997, a scheme giving due recognition to the skills of construction workers whilst focusing each card holder on acceptable health and safety standards, and having organisations like BuildHealth NI established in March 2007 to focus purely on the health of construction workers, we’ve come a long way.
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