Celebrating Women in Construction: A Reflection on International Women’s Day
Over 130 colleagues joined our first-ever ‘Spill the Tea’ online session, acknowledging and celebrating the invaluable contributions of women at Algeco during International Women’s Day. On Friday, the 8th of March, attendees had the privilege of hearing from four remarkable women who shared insights into their personal and professional career journeys as women in construction.
Kicking off our 'Spill-the-Tea' session is Darren Littleboy, our Chief Human Resources Officer from Modulaire Group. It was an honour to welcome Darren to our IWD session!
He says: “International Women’s Day is incredibly important. But it’s not just for women; it’s for all of us because we all have a critical part to play in achieving gender equality. IWD is important to me because I have three teenage children: two boys, Tom and Jack, and a girl named Sophie. It’s about making sure Sophie, who is 16, gets treated fairly and has an equal voice. But it’s also about all of them treating people fairly with dignity and respect.
“It’s also really important in the workplace. We’ve got a diverse set of business opportunities every day, and we face tough decisions. And we need a diverse set of experiences and minds to be the best that we can be. Having good gender parity and good gender representation is critical for us as a business. There is an amazing amount of work that is happening across Modulaire Group around gender diversity and broader EDI. I’ve seen it firsthand that when you have diversity in the team, oh boy do you get better outcomes.”
Key Discussion Points:
1. Women’s Career Growth in the Construction Industry:
Our first inspirational speaker, Amanda Jones, has worked in the temporary accommodation industry for 30 years, with the last 17 years spent at Algeco. Transitioning through various roles, Amanda is now our Sales and Operations Director.
Sharing her career journey and growth as a woman in the construction industry, Amanda says: “I joined the temporary accommodation industry when it was an extremely male-dominated field. My first employer had no females in its leadership team and no females outside of administration 30 years ago! My second employer also had no females on their leadership team until I joined.
“When I joined Algeco as a National Account Manager, females in management positions were few and far between. Seventeen years ago, this organisation was heavily male-dominated, and women were generally seen as back-office staff. However, it never crossed my mind that I was in the minority sector. I simply wanted to do a good job.
“Around 10 years ago, we recruited our first-ever female Director into HR. My role continued to progress, and I became the second female as a Key Account Director in this business! I believe that my progress has been achieved by consistently delivering good results, not through self-promotion but through teamwork. Most importantly, I stay true to my personal values.
“Our organisation now employs many females across a diverse range of roles. They are no longer restricted to the back office. We employ females as site managers, tradespeople, operational staff, sales professionals, and the list goes on. Who would have thought we would have progressed so far 30 years ago?”
2. Balancing family commitments with professional growth
Emily, our Key Account Director, takes the spotlight next, discussing balancing family commitments with professional growth. Emily is a remarkable woman who has worked for Algeco for the past 10 years, starting her career in 2014. Outside of work, Emily has two daughters, Esme, who is 3, and Madelyn, who is 8 months old.
Emily shares: “My plan really was only to work here for a couple of months to figure out what I wanted to do. And 10 years later, I am still here. Throughout my time at Algeco, I’ve been fortunate to work alongside some amazing women.
“Having a successful career is important to me, while also having an employer who can support and understand the challenges that come with having a family. While I always knew I wanted a family, I also knew I wanted to continue my career at the same time. My mum gave up work until I was at school, which was quite common back then. And perhaps the expectation was for women to stay at home, cook, clean, and look after children, while the men went to work. Over the years, I’ve seen that expectation change. Why shouldn’t women continue to have a successful career if they want to?
“Since having my two girls and returning to work, I’ve had to make some changes to the way I structure my day. I have to put a lot of time into planning childcare. Sometimes, I’ll plan weeks and months in advance, which can be a real challenge but it’s necessary. I do believe the work environment has become more flexible over the past couple of years, and part of that was due to COVID-19.
“While I’m extremely career-minded, I returned to work to have a work-home balance, which is important for my mental health. Also, our maternity policy has changed to an enhanced scheme. Without that support, it would force some people to leave, and for me, this year it has made such a big difference.”
3. Navigating Health Challenges while pursuing career goals
Next, we welcome Gemma, who courageously took to the stage to talk about navigating health challenges while pursuing a career. Gemma is our Area Service Manager for London and the South East. While she has been working with Algeco Storage for over three years, she has been in the accommodation industry for 10 years. When not at work, Gemma devotes most of her time to her 6-year-old daughter and planning her wedding for August.
Gemma says: “Back in August 2022, I was diagnosed with grade 3 stage 2 breast cancer - triple negative breast cancer. Unfortunately for me, it's one of the more aggressive cancers. I discovered a lump completely by accident when I was in the shower. I managed to get an appointment with my local GP and was referred to the cancer pathway. I was seen and diagnosed within 3 weeks of finding the lump. Everything was a complete blur after that. My condition was hereditary, which means it was passed down from my family. There's a 50% chance that my daughter has inherited the gene from me.
“After the diagnosis, I had tests and chemotherapy, but there was a chance that the cancer would return. So, I had a preventative surgery where I had both my breasts removed and reconstructed with implants. I also had radiotherapy, so I have to be very careful in the sun. The chemotherapy meant that my immune system took a battering. Working as an ASM out on the road and meeting customers was unfortunately something that I couldn’t do. So, I had to completely isolate myself from everybody. I was no longer going to the office or going out to see customers. Trying to be normal and get on with things was a little bit hard. But I found solace in continuing to work.
“Some days after the treatment, I wasn’t 100%. A lot of times in previous years, women didn’t want to be seen as weak, so we put a lot of pressure on ourselves. But if you're navigating something difficult, then it’s a testament to how strong women are. There’s a lot of support out there. At Algeco, we have mental health first aiders within the business. Work really supported me throughout, so a massive thank you to everyone at Algeco UK and Storage who still continue to support me through my surgery. I am getting there, but it’s a long process.”
4. Women in the workforce: embracing diversity
Our last inspirational speaker is Giang, who joins the discussion to talk about women in the workforce and embracing diversity. Giang came to the UK for her Master's studies in 2018. She initially joined the Group’s ESG internship and then transitioned to the UK team as the ESG Manager in 2022. Giang explores her personal development journey and experiences as a woman working and living in different and contrasting cultures.
Giang shares: “I am from Vietnam, which is a hierarchical and patriarchal society, so it’s very male-dominated. When I was there, many people said I was too intimidating for a woman because I was outspoken and didn't hide my intelligence. I landed a leadership position quite early in my 30s, but I faced a lot of resistance. When I was a leader of a charity, I once overheard one of my colleagues question why they had to listen to a woman. Throughout my life, I received advice from both female and male friends that I come across as too masculine, that I outshine men, and that I needed to pretend to be ignorant to attract men and find someone to take care of me.
“I have to be honest. At one point, I did believe that I needed to change myself. I told my amazing mum, and she told me that I can’t change who I am and to just be myself. With that mindset and thinking, it has gotten me to where I am today.
“One of the biggest reasons for coming and staying in the UK is for the opportunity and the environment that makes me feel happy and like I can be myself. In my early days with Algeco, I joined the organisation as an intern with Modulaire Group. The manager told me I was too soft and that I should not be afraid to express my thoughts and to be assertive. That advice was so different from the criticism I received when I was in Vietnam.
Giang found it difficult to find a partner in Vietnam due to the gender perceptions. But in a more welcoming culture, she was able to find her loving partner. She says: “At home, when I fix things, my boyfriend says, ‘That's my woman.’ It's just things like that which make me feel much more empowered, confident, and included. And it's similar things that really empower me every day, help me break the unconscious gender bias that I hold for myself, and make me feel equal, confident, and happy to be who I am. I also receive a great level of support from my line manager and colleagues.
“The environment we work and live in determines whether one can be their best and offer the best. Our actions, even small ones, leave an impact on people.”
We extend a huge thank you to the four remarkable women who bravely shared their stories, reflecting on the significant achievements of women and their experiences in the construction industry. Their insights have highlighted the progress we've made, yet our journey continues. Together, we strive to create a more inclusive workplace and industry for everyone.
