Twenty per cent increase in women building careers in construction with Bellway

With National Careers Week (7-12 March) and International Women’s Day (8 March) fast approaching, Bellway North West is proud to showcase its team of inspiring women building careers in the fast-paced construction industry.

Currently developing across Lancashire, Merseyside and Cheshire, the North West division of the national housebuilding group has noticed a significant 20 per cent increase, compared to last year, in women fulfilling roles that have perhaps more traditionally been associated with men.

In addition to the other 45 females working across the division, Bellway North West now employs 18 women in its build, technical, commercial, land and planning departments.

The total is made up as follows: four women in the build department (one site manager, two assistant site managers and one apprentice plumber), a further four women in the technical team (two architects, one engineer and one trainee engineer), five in commercial (two quantity surveyors, two trainee quantity surveyors and one director) and five in land and planning (two land managers, one assistant land manager, one planner and one apprentice planner).

Proving that the sky is the limit when it comes to progression and success, Teresa Dwyer started her career with Bellway as a quantity surveyor before being promoted to senior quantity surveyor, chief quantity surveyor then commercial manager, followed by commercial director. 

She now inspires the next generation and a raft of female apprentices, one of whom was recognised as Bellway’s Apprentice of the Year and highly commended at a ceremony at the House of Commons.

Dwyer said: “Times have changed a great deal and it is incredible to see so many more women in the construction industry, building successful and fulfilling careers especially here at Bellway North West where we are committed to creating equal opportunities for all.”

Further helping to inspire the next generation, Bellway North West’s regional managing director David Williams and construction director Ian Hopkins regularly host meet and greet sessions in local schools and colleges to promote careers in construction which has resulted in a steady increase in school leavers and graduates of both sexes.

Attracting not one but two females from the same family, Bellway employs sisters Amy and Grace Walsh.  Amy joined Bellway as a trainee quantity surveyor four years ago and is now fully qualified.  Her sister joined the company last year as an apprentice planner.

Amy said: “It is testament to the fantastic team and culture here at Bellway North West that gender stereotypes are officially a thing of the past; roles and development opportunities are available to all which is reflected in the increasing number of women excelling in the more non-traditional roles.”

Bellway North West has long championed careers in construction with apprenticeships, trainee positions and graduate programmes open equally to both male and female applicants.