It’s Women in Construction Week, and at Vision, we’re celebrating the incredible women shaping the industry. We had the pleasure of speaking with a fantastic client of ours, Karen Bayliss, Regional Operations Manager at Mannings, about her journey in construction. Karen gives us an insight to her background, inspiration for pursuing a career in the construction industry and the importance of diversity in the sector. With years of experience under her belt, Karen is a true example of the impact women can have in construction, and we’re excited to share her insights with you.

 

What inspired you to pursue a career in the construction industry?

I was a consultant for 20 years managing my own business in the Chemical, Transport and Automotive industries so when an opportunity arose for me to join a local construction company when I went back to the corporate world, I thought that this would be another great challenge – learning a new industry which is still more male dominated, similar to previous companies that I had worked with. I hoped I could bring a new perspective to this industry too.

How long have you worked in the construction industry?

Eight years

What do you love most about your job?

The variety of tasks and breadth of people that I meet. No two days are ever the same. I am a natural fire-fighter and used to delivering solutions to challenges so having to manage labour on sites as well as ensuring we are legally compliant knowing who is doing what and where is a challenge that I relish. I have visibility of all sites that we work on and am also responsible for HR, Training and our ISO Quality Management System which gives me the benefit of supporting my colleagues as well as ensuring that the company maintains its accreditations. My role demands excellent organisation skills, flexibility, quick thinking and problem resolution ability – I love it.

How has the role of women in construction evolved during your career?

During my work at Mannings I have employed one agency female site manager and she was the best we had by a long way – organised, able to multi-task, computer literate – a real joy. I see female apprentices being brought onto site more and more and as I monitor the ESG values of the company it is good to see the representation of women increasing, albeit slowly. Still a long way to go.

What advice would you give to women who are looking to break into the construction industry?

You need to have a thick skin, you will need to be “one of the lads” no matter how hard the industry tries to level the playing field but with your skills and ability for a softer approach, new visions, ability to multi-task and natural organisation skills you can achieve great things.

Why is having a diverse workforce important in construction?

As with any industry diversity allows for more creative thinking, innovation and a greater depth of experience thus giving companies an edge over the competition.