Women in Construction Week takes place during the first full week in March every year. It is a time to highlight all the great initiatives and work of women within the industry. Likewise, it is a time that brings to the fore the opportunities that are available to women in construction.
We took time out this week to speak to our new trainer Shannon Boyle and find out how she started out on her journey in the construction industry.
”As a young girl I grew up watching my grandad and uncles working in the construction industry and I knew from then that I wanted to follow in their footsteps.
Whilst still in school I completed my 5th year 1 week placement going to work with my grandad shadowing him as building site Foreman. From then I pursued my career and have been working in the construction industry as a health and safety professional for approximately 10 years now.
For my A levels, I completed Double Construction and ICT. I then went on to Ulster University and completed my Degree in Construction Engineering and Management with a successful 1st Class honour degree. After university I completed my NEBOSH General Certificate and over the years I have completed additional training at ITS to further my knowledge in safety in construction and career. These courses have been a CSR four-day site safety for supervisors which I hold a Supervisor Gold Card in, a Supervisor Street works course, and many more. I have now moved from working on Construction sites to delivering Health and Safety Training.
I have just started working with Industry Training Services ltd as a health and safety training Instructor and assessor. I will be delivering health and safety courses/programmes in areas such as manual handling & abrasive wheels, C.A.T & genny, Signing Lighting and Guarding, CSR health & safety and Street works along with many more and carrying out assessments on our delegates. Our aim as a company and as instructors are to ensure everyone has the correct knowledge and that they are competent in their workplace to complete their job correctly and get home safely.
As like all industries, construction is changing all the time. There are a lot of women working in construction now compared to 15+ years ago.
I would recommend women getting into construction. It is a great career path with so many different routes. I myself for the past 10years have been contractor-based working for construction companies and being on-site. I have now decided to change my route and go into delivering health and safety training. There are so many different options available within the construction sector to suit everyone’s needs. It is an excellent industry for everyone involved”
