After a career break to be a full-time mum, Shelly wanted to change jobs but was unsure what new role or industry would work best for her and still allow her time with her new family.
Background
Before becoming a parent Shelly was a customer service team leader for a large American corporation for over a decade. When she was ready to return to the world of work she needed a role that would work around her family. She initially tried working as a childminder but rapidly realised that was not the right role for her, before beginning to build her career in construction.
Building a career in construction
We asked Shelly what she enjoyed most about working in the house-building industry.
Shelly explained “I enjoy coming to work each day knowing I will almost certainly be learning something new. I love it when I can apply what I have been learning in the classroom to my day-to-day role. For me, every day is a learning day!”
Why opt for an apprenticeship
Shelly told us that “I never considered this type of job as I didn’t think it was a role that would work for a woman, especially a single mum like me, but I was wrong! I work for a company who want to be an employer of choice and they have updated their family-friendly policies to support this. I know other companies in this sector are also doing the same, so while some people may assume that the house-building industry isn’t family friendly, I can assure you that it is.”
We also asked Shelly what it was like being a woman in the construction sector. She said “Women are still a minority in this male-dominated environment but that is changing. Having more women in this industry is a positive thing and I would encourage everyone to explore apprenticeships and careers in housebuilding because you really don’t know what is out there - there might be a fantastic career waiting!”
Looking ahead
We asked Shelly about her career plans. Shelly said “I would hope by the time I am qualified I will be able to do my job properly having learnt about the whole house building process. I will definitely be looking to go on and do my Level 6 qualification too.”
Heidi Khoshtaghaza, HR Director at Bellway Homes added “It is wonderful to hear about Shelly’s experiences and see first-hand how our efforts to allow a better work-life balance and support people with families are working. The sector is fast-paced and full of challenges, but it truly is a rewarding career path filled with lots of excellent opportunities. It’s an exciting time to be in this industry and I would encourage anyone who is interested to consider a career in construction.”
