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As part of the #BuildingEquality 2018 Campaign, Sonya Stuart, Human Resources Manager, Siac Construction Ltd, shares her story as a woman in construction.
There’s no denying that Construction is a male-dominated industry however I believe that the few women that are involved in the industry make a real difference.
There is value to companies, and ultimately the industry as a whole, from the different perspectives that people from different backgrounds and, in this case, those of a different gender, can bring.
My role in HR is not specific to the Construction industry and circumstance more than design brought me to this industry; however I have found it to be a most rewarding industry, of which to be a part.
Role models have been extremely important to me in my career so far. I’ve been lucky to work under some fantastic HR managers (all female), who were very generous with their time and I believe their influence helped me to progress in my own career.
At SIAC we use our mentoring programme to assist our less experienced staff in the early days of their careers and I believe this is really beneficial to not only our mentees but also our mentors. I think getting more women into the construction industry starts with highlighting to young women that the construction industry is not only a career option for them but a rewarding one.
Recent campaigns have highlighted the importance of girls seeing women in diverse roles and I believe this is particularly important for construction, which is so heavily associated with being a male industry. We need girls, considering future career options, to be able to visualise themselves as Engineers, Quantity Surveyors, Project Managers.
To learn more about the #BuildingEquality campaign and to share your own story, please visit our dedicated page here