When you think of construction workers, who comes to mind? If you’re like most people, you probably picture men in hard hats. However, this Women in Construction week, we’re here to challenge that stereotype and celebrate the women working at Kirkwood Timber Frame.
It’s no secret that the industry has historically been a tough place for women to make a name for themselves. But despite the challenges, times are changing. Women are paving the way in construction and more and more are joining the industry. From engineers and accountants to architects and project managers, there are a vast variety of roles within the sector.
In this blog post, we caught up with Hannah who is Kirkwood Timber Frame’s divisional accountant to hear her take on the industry and why she’s keen to inspire a new generation and encourage more women to pursue a career in construction…
Name: Hannah Leith
What is your job title?
Divisional Accountant
How long have you worked at Kirkwood Timber Frame?
“I started working at Kirkwood Timber Frame in April 2022.”
Can you tell us a bit about your background - is this your first role within the construction industry or have you worked in the industry for a number of years?
“This is my first role in the construction industry. Prior to joining Kirkwood Timber Frame, my background was oil and gas, working for a service company.
“As an accountant, luckily my skills are transferable across industries so when the opportunity arose to experience working in a new sector, I was up for the challenge and change in environment.”
What inspired/led you to pursue a career in construction?
“After returning to work after having my second child, I soon realised I wanted a change, and exploring another industry was high up on my priority list when I was searching for a new job. I’ve always been keen on design and fascinated by nice houses so when I was approached by an agency for a role as a divisional accountant at Kirkwood Timber Frame, it felt like the perfect fit for me.”
What does a day in the life at Kirkwood Timber Frame look like for you?
“I work very closely with the purchase ledger and payroll teams within the group and I’m responsible for handling all of the day-to-day finance activities. This can vary from invoicing clients and cash flow forecasting to preparing the monthly management accounts, quarterly forecasts and annual budgets.
“As an accountant, our roles don’t differ massively across sectors which many don’t consider when they originally begin their studies. With this in mind, I would definitely encourage other accountants or trainee accountants to consider a finance based role within the sector.”
Do you have a favourite project you have worked on? What made it stand out?
“Most of my role follows a set structure day-to-day and week to week but when Kirkwood Timber Frame became its own entity at the start of July last year, I got to work closely with Kirkwood’s Finance Director, Scott to manage the process as well as lead the implementation of our new ERP system. It was great to see this project through from start to finish.”
What do you feel is the biggest challenge of being a woman in construction?
“I’ve touched on this above, but I think the biggest challenge is a lack of understanding of the variety of roles open to both men and women in the construction sector. Most people can’t see past the stereotypical view of construction roles being on site jobs. But while there are a range of positions which are predominantly on site, there is a vast amount of opportunities for office-based roles too.”
What advice would you give to other women looking to get into the construction industry?
“It’s not as daunting as it seems, there are a variety of roles within the industry. Whether you’re just starting out and looking for an apprenticeship or several years into your career, there’s definitely an opportunity worth pursuing.”
What do you love most about the industry? Anything you’d like to see change in the future?
“I can’t speak for every employer but at Kirkwood Timber Frame, I love how inclusive and collaborative the team is. I joined the team coming up for a year ago and I am amazed at how much I have learned about the industry and also the Kirkwood Timber Frame process just being on site and working closely with the team.
“I would like to encourage others to consider a career in construction but also inspire the next generation to want to work within this industry. At Kirkwood Timber Frame, there’s room to grow, develop and plenty of opportunities to learn on the job.”
