This week, we're not just celebrating International Women's Day, but also Women in Construction Week. We hear from Kirsty Dougan, Property Surveyor at Castles and Coasts Housing Association (CCHA) whose journey perfectly embodies the spirit of both celebrations.
Kirsty's career path to surveying wasn't quite a straight line. Initially drawn to the fire service, Kirsty was disappointed that when she left school aged 18, they weren’t recruiting. Unperturbed, she decided to enrol on a Fire Risk Engineering degree at university.
"I graduated after four years and started my working career as a Fire Risk Assessor in social housing" she shared.
Fast forward 15 years, and she's found her true calling in property surveying.
"I absolutely love my job," she enthused. "Being out and about seeing all our different properties and meeting lots of people is great! Every job is different, meaning no two days are the same."
Of course, being a woman in construction brings its own challenges. Kirsty said:
"I have been met with a lot of curious interest. People seem to be genuinely excited and happy to have a woman in a role which has previously been male dominated."
"Over time, I have realised that it is a benefit to a company to have people from different backgrounds in the same role, as different perspectives can be very beneficial. It also widens choice for our residents. For example, someone who has suffered domestic abuse can now specify whether they prefer a male or female surveyor to visit their property. I am proud to be part of a team that can facilitate this.”
While progress has undoubtedly been made in terms of equality, there's still work to do. Kirsty believes that more education is needed in schools about the roles in housing and construction industries, and that these are open to all genders.
"I think jobs in housing and construction are often thought to be heavy manual labour jobs, which may put some females off. But that isn’t the case. There are many avenues to explore."
Fortunately, Kirsty has had strong female role models to look up to. Along the way, she has had several female line managers, who have shown her that it is possible to progress up the career ladder.
For young women considering a career in property surveying, housing, or construction her advice is clear:
“Just go for it! It's a really enjoyable job and there are lots of opportunities. You can be involved in the construction of properties as a site manager, quantity surveyor, or site operative, it’s up to you. Find what interests you and give it a go!”
As we celebrate International Women's Day and Women in Construction Week, Kirsty leaves us with this message:
"Construction is a great field to work in. I have loved my working career, and with another 30 odd years to go, I am excited to see where this takes me."
Let's continue to champion women in construction, break down barriers, and create a more inclusive and diverse industry for all.
Happy International Women's Day and Women in Construction Week!