According to Triflex, research in 2016 has shown that around 14% of construction professionals are women and although these numbers may seem low, the picture is set to change with more and more women choosing to work in the construction industry.
As a company it says it is keen to promote and encourage more women to get involved in the industry and is proud to say that 23% of its employees in management, technical, logistics and support roles are female.
Mark Saxton, director at Triflex, commented: “We are keen to always hire the most knowledgeable, determined and intelligent employees, regardless of gender.”
Triflex says its technical team is at the heart of the business and it is proud to introduce one of its women in construction, technical advisor Làuren Parsons.
Triflex is Ms Parsons’ first experience of working in the construction industry, and she says that it’s been a great start to her career, giving valuable experience of being the first point of call for clients, contractors and architects, along with creating project specific specifications for roofing, walkways, balconies and terraces, plus visiting sites to inspect work carried out and snagging the contractors work.
Graduating from Liverpool John Moore’s University, Ms Parsons completed a Foundation Degree in Construction and Building Surveying, followed by a BA Hons Degree in Construction and Building Management.
Her interest in historic and modern architecture started at a young age, but she only considered a career in construction when her dad started working on the design for the first eco-house in Stoke-on-Trent. Ms Parson’s initial captivation and interest in her father’s work later found her involved in the design and layout of the project, taking particular interest in the use of sustainable products and technologies.
She commented: “I enjoy being out on site the most, interacting with clients and contractors, providing them with the technical support to complete their projects to the best possible standard. However as a woman in the construction industry, it is a constant battle to be taken seriously, as I am usually the only woman on the construction site and I am well aware that I stand out as the only one.”
Keen to point out that women are highly capable, both mentally and physically, and that there should be no gender limitations within the construction industry, Ms Parsons continued: “Women have traditionally been based in the office, but times are changing and women on site is likely to become more and more the norm in the future.”
