Lovell Breaking Ground for Women in Construction

The construction industry is widely reported to have the worst gender balance of any UK industry, with just 13%¹ of all workers being female.  As the 8 March 2021 celebrates International Women’s Day with the theme ‘Choose To Challenge’, Lovell is celebrating its year-round commitment to improving gender equality.

Katie Bagley, Site Manager at Lovell

Compared to industry norms, thirty per cent of Lovell’s workforce is female, while not quite the 50/50 split the business is striving for, this figure demonstrates the ongoing commitment to even up the balance.  Through its culture, staff and initiatives, rectifying the gender imbalance in the construction industry is something Lovell strives to achieve everyday.  As a consequence, these actions are naturally embedded within the business.   

Katie Bagley, site manager for the South Wales and South West region is a strong advocate of women in construction and is part of Lovell’s commitment to spearheading change. Katie comments: “Attracting more women into construction will require us to shatter the myth that women don’t belong.  As a woman in construction, and in particular a woman in construction at Lovell, I have had equal opportunity to progress my career, the only limit to my professional growth is my own ambition.”

Debra Borley, Handover Quality Manager at Lovell

While Lovell has a clear strategy to address the imbalance of gender equality in its own business, it’s important that the industry joins forces to emphasise that women have an equal place in construction.  Debra Borley, handover quality manager, has this to say: “One of the challenges we must overcome is the perception of construction, it’s very much viewed as a man’s world and we must break down these out-dated attitudes.  Other sectors have achieved it and so must we.  

“Engaging with students, graduates and other young professionals considering their career choices is where we must target our message – through education we will change opinions and for every woman entering the industry today, she is paving the way for the next female joining our incredible sector.”

Debra and Katie both joined Lovell in 2017 and have received numerous opportunites to develop their careers within the business since. Katie joined the team as a handover quality manager and has since been promoted to site manager at The Mill in Canton, Cardiff, whilst Debra joined as a site manager overseeing a refurbishment project for Vale of Glamorgan Council and now works as a handover quality manager for the region.