Women in
Construction

Working at Suir Engineering I feel they empower you to do your job well and equip you with everything you need to be successful. Luckily, I have been surrounded by great role models and mentors throughout my career. Whether that be the other Advisor & Managers in the EHS circle but also the Supervisors, Foremen, Chargehands, Electricians & Apprentices that I have worked with daily on many of the projects throughout Munster. And for that, I thank them all.

After nearly 10 years in pharmaceuticals I decided I needed a change in the environment I worked in. I was no longer challenged in that role. At Suir Engineering I found the company I was looking for and started out as a Document Controller. I started working on site in Alexion Pharmaceuticals before moving onto Data Centre’s where I had sole responsibility for that role. After nearly 2 years, a position opened for a trainee planner and I was approached to see if this would interest me. Although I was very happy with my position, I jumped at the opportunity to further my career and haven’t looked back since. I successfully completed the Primavera P6 course which helped with the understanding and navigation of the new software that came with the Planning role. I also have a great support network of colleagues and management to help on hand too which is hugely beneficial to me.

I started my EHS journey after completing my 4 year Bachelor's Degree in Health and Safety. One of the major reasons I chose a Career in the Construction Industry is the job satisfaction. It is an incredible feeling when you can see the physical impact of your hard work before your very eyes. If you are given the privilege to be on a project from start to finish, you will understand the satisfaction of developing something beautiful out of nothing. Another reason for choosing a career in Construction was to "break barriers" and encourage more people of colour (specifically women of colour) to join this industry. It is very easy to notice that construction is male-dominated and can seem like a threatening profession for some women. I have enjoyed my uniqueness while working in Construction, continuously hoping that I can inspire others to take the chance.

Working in Construction has given me many opportunities to meet diverse groups of individuals - from Senior Management of Organisation's to the boots on the ground workers. Each day is a refreshing experience, meeting new people, reconnecting with past colleagues and having a positive impact on people's lives each day. Some of the relationships gained while working in Construction are life changing and will be cherished forever. If you are thinking about a career in construction, I would fully advise you to give it a go.

I choose a career in Construction / Engineering as my family were in the business and I was always fascinated by electricity, even as a young child and was curious about how things worked. 

As an experienced quantity surveyor, I have a track record of working strategically to expand and improve procedures and practices. I love working with a great team, constant change in environments and daily challenges. There are no two days a like on a construction site and every day is learning day.

I am currently in the process of upskilling and continuing my education with a Level 9 Masters in Lean Excellence and look forward to the next set of challenges.

 

My MSc in Environmental Health and Safety Management has given me the tools and confidence to successfully manage safety onsite. However, the most beneficial training I have received is the training at Suir Engineering, and from my EHS Managers and Supervisors. With their mentorship and guidance, I have gained an invaluable amount of knowledge and practical experience, not to mention the relationships I have gained both on and off site. My job is different every day, no two days are the same and I work with a great team, so it doesn’t feel like work a lot of the time. The thing I like most about working at Suir Engineering is the people I work with - a great team creates a supportive family type environment at work and you never feel isolated. 

The diversity of my role is what I enjoy the most. The area that I work in is constantly evolving and requires keeping up to date with all sections on the business. Recently with the support of Suir Engineering I upskilled and successfully completed a Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing. As a result, I am also responsible for our social media presence, website and customer relationship management (CRM) system.

I started my career as an Architect trainee before finishing my bachelor’s degree, and although this would bring out the creative side of me, I wanted to see the projects beyond the drawing board. For that reason, I started a new job as a Construction Analyst onsite where every day I could literally see something new coming to life.

I had the opportunity to visit the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Plant in Toronto and received training in their “Just in Time” “Lean Production” systems. I felt inspired by this concept and add that to the principles of Project Management, I could see how they could have a positive impact on overall productivity, communication and clients’ satisfaction.