With women accounting for only 11% of the entire UK construction workforce, it's clear that the construction industry still has a long way to go when it comes to equal female representation. In honour of Women in Construction week, we want to take the time to celebrate and recognise the passionate and hard-working women within our team.
We caught up with Timber Frame Design Technician, Amy Smith, who shares her insights into the biggest challenges women in the field currently face, advice for others looking to get into the industry and what led her to pursue a career in this field...
Name: Amy Smith
What is your job title?
Timber Frame Design Technician
How long have you worked at Kirkwood Timber Frame?
“I started at Kirkwood Timber Frame in January 2023 returning to the industry as I was off the previous year on maternity leave.”
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?
“At school, I studied graphic communication, product design and engineering. The technical subjects were the ones I really enjoyed, therefore I had an inkling that I wanted to go into construction but didn’t have any particular job in mind. After I finished school in 2016, I went on to study the built environment at North East Scotland College (Nescol), where I balanced a part-time retail job alongside my studies.
“After completing my college course, I secured a traineeship within the construction industry. I trained for two and a half years before becoming a qualified technician at the start of 2020. I then took a year off to have a baby and spend time with my family.”
“Returning to work after starting my family was made really easy by the team at Kirkwood Timber Frame. The opportunity to work flexibly, and remotely at times, made the transition back to work less daunting.”
What inspired/led you to pursue a career in construction?
“I always knew I wanted to pursue a career in construction, mainly because I was interested in the design of buildings, both internally and externally. Before starting my career in construction, I had no idea about the specific jobs that were available within the industry which was the driving force behind me starting college, as I wanted to gain a better understanding of the different areas of construction.
“During college, it became clear to me that I really enjoyed the design aspect of construction and began to do some research into the topic. I also spoke with some companies in the local area and was then offered my timber frame designer traineeship.”
What does a day in the life at Kirkwood Timber Frame look like for you?
“The majority of my day is spent drawing timber frame kit panels and producing production drawings for manufacture in our specialist CAD software. I liaise with engineers and architects to produce the final structure drawings and pass this information to the factory to produce timber frame kits. I also list materials for site, produce drawings and site details.”
Do you have a favourite project you have worked on? What made it stand out?
“I wouldn’t say that I have a favourite project specifically, as I work on a variety of different projects. However, I do love designing one-off houses. They are unique to each and every client. There is also a personal touch to these projects and I enjoy the hands-on approach we adopt to help deliver the quality and service that these clients require. I enjoy being able to work directly with the client and it's very rewarding to know that you’re helping them build their dream home.”
What do you feel is the biggest challenge of being a woman in construction?
“The biggest challenge I think females currently face in the construction industry is not having enough exposure to the vast range of job opportunities available throughout the industry. I would like to see females being represented in media, books and magazines marketed for young people, as an alternative to the stereotypical male on a construction site wearing a hardhat and hi-vis.”
”There is an opportunity to demonstrate a variety of roles within the industry, I believe if women were visible in media and more present at construction career fairs for young people to relate to,., the more it will attract them and others to join, and will help give young females the confidence and reassurance they need to start a career in construction.”
How do you see the timber frame industry changing over the next five years?
“It's clear that the timber frame industry is beginning to take over when it comes to building houses, particularly in Scotland, and is growing in the rest of the UK. I think that this is a great time for females to get into the industry and build great careers in technical roles. There are so many more jobs in the industry than people think and there’s a place for us all!”
What advice would you give to other women looking to get into the construction industry?
“I would say to other females to just have the confidence to join. I feel like the industry is not as male-dominated as it once was, especially at Kirkwood Timber Frame and there are jobs for females in every part of the industry. We are now seeing more females on sites and within offices so there are plenty of positions for us - it's certainly not as daunting as it may seem!
“There are also so many options and routes you can go down to progress which is something I believe needs to be emphasised and encouraged to others, not just those who are working within the industry.”
What do you love most about the industry? Anything you’d like to see change in the future?
“I love working in my role and would thoroughly encourage it to others. The only change I would love to see is more females coming into construction based roles and encouraging more young people to go for traineeships/apprenticeships.”
