Member Article

Female site manager in Chichester ‘builds’ strong career within male-dominated construction industry

As we head towards International Women’s Day on Tuesday, 8th March, one Chichester site manager is showing that females are just as good as their male counterparts when it comes to working in construction.

Nina McQuay, 29, works at David Wilson Homes’ Madgwick Park development in Westhampnett and has just started on an Assistant Site Manager Trainee programme with the leading housebuilder.

Starting with the developer as carpentry apprentice three years ago, Nina knows only too well, the pre-conceived stereotypes evident in the construction industry, often feeling she had to work doubly hard to prove herself.

She said: “As the only woman on site, it has sometimes felt like there’s a pre-judgement as to what I can and can’t do. I’ve often felt I’ve needed to work twice as hard as my male colleagues to show my worth.”

According to Nina however, women can bring something to the construction industry that perhaps men can’t.

She said: “Women are often more approachable when it comes to opening up on a certain issue or problem that arises. And this is extremely important for mental health.”

Mental health is a real issue in the construction industry. In the male dominated sector, the number of workers committing suicide is three times the national average for men. A report by the Chartered Institute of Building found that 26% of construction industry professionals thought about taking their own lives in 2019, 70% of respondents have experienced depression and 87% experienced anxiety.

For Nina, who has suffered with depression, having somewhere to go while at work when she needed help, was vital.

She added: “Depression was having a detrimental impact on my day-to-day life when I started work, and it was important that I was able to voice my concerns.

“For male construction workers, having a female to approach regarding mental health issues, could be a big help. Unfortunately, there’s still a lot of ‘bravado’ when it comes to men talking about their feelings with each other, which is a real shame.”

After sharing her own difficulties with David Wilson Homes, Nina was able to voice her concerns and has since thrived. And now, as Trainee Assistant Site Manager at Madgwick Park, she has been nominated to be a part of a career development programme for high potential women within the business.

The scheme, Catalyst, is designed to help promote a career in construction for women through role models on site, something Nina is an avid supporter of.

She said: “It took me while to feel comfortable enough to start a career in construction, but it’s been incredible. To be able to inspire other women to do the same is fantastic.”

As an equal opportunities’ employer, David Wilson Homes works hard to ensure there are roles for everyone regardless of gender, race or background. Not only does this level the playing field for equal opportunities, but it creates a richer and more vibrant working environment.

Anthony Dimmick, David Wilson Homes’ Community Liaison Manager, is delighted to hear Nina’s story, and hopes her success will persuade other women to join the sector.

He said: “While female construction workers have increased steadily over the past few years, the proportion of women in the industry is still significantly lower – something David Wilson Homes is keen to change. “Nina has flourished in her career with us, and I hope to hear of many other women following in her footsteps in the months and years to come.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Barratt Homes .