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As part of the #BuildingEquality Campaign, Fiona McCourt, Quality Manager with Flynn shares her story.
They say “if you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life”. I can honestly say I love working in the Construction Industry and enjoy the fast paced environment and quick turnaround from one project to the next. To see a space transform from week to week is exciting and the challenge it brings to keeping a constant churn of different work packages moving, creates drive.
I completed my Degree just as the recession began and I made the decision to move to Australia. When it came time to move back home, I was really nervous about securing my position with an Irish company as I had always perceived the Irish Construction Industry to be solely male dominated! I couldn’t have been more wrong!
Since working with Flynn, I have struck up many great relationships with women in the Construction Industry from my fellow work colleagues, to consultants and even through subcontractors I’ve worked with on site. Flynn have a diverse work force which keeps them fresh and forward thinking. There is great banter to be had and I look forward to the new characters I meet from one project to the next.
Flynn have supported me on both a professional level as well as a personal level. I have always found Senior Management very approachable and keen to help with any hurdles big or small. This promotes a mentoring culture within the business which is not something I have seen a lot before with previous employers. I completed my PMI accreditation in which I was supported with monthly study days. The Construction Industry is forever changing with new technologies and standards, and Flynn strongly support the ongoing development of all staff.
I started a family while working at Flynn and was surprised with the news I was expecting twins. The support I received while I was pregnant, and for the year of maternity leave I was granted, was astonishing. For that, I will always be very grateful. I returned to work last year. I started a new role as Quality Manager for the business and I am thoroughly enjoying it.
We don’t have enough women in the Construction Industry and a good starting point is getting into our local schools and start talking about career opportunities to young girls. We need to show them they have a place in the Construction Industry and the opportunities are endless! This is something we are passionate about in Flynn and we continually get involved in supporting Community Programmes within the local community.
To those considering construction as a career….Do It!
To learn more about the #BuildingEquality campaign and to share your own story, please visit our dedicated page here