#TeamWrekin celebrates achievements of employees during women in construction week
For #WomenInConstructionWeek23 we caught up with some of our talented team about their skills and experience.
Development manager Jane Kind’s career in housing spans over 30 years and has seen her work in many areas of the sector, however it was a love of working with contractors which sparked a career in construction and project management within the development team.
Jane Kind “I’ve been working in housing since I left school and experienced a variety of roles including customer service, area housing, homelessness and adaptations but it was my love of project work including dealing with contractors which led to my first role in the development team as an assistant project manager.
“Working in development perfectly links my housing background with the property side. I adore my job and Wrekin and I’ve had the support I need to progress my career by learning on the job. I feel there is now more variety of opportunities for women and women are no longer shoehorned into traditional roles. Now 33 years later I’m still in housing and I can’t see that changing.”
Project Manager Charlotte Prince is now entering her tenth year with Wrekin, and is now overseeing some of the housing association’s key developments.
Charlotte said: “I think a lot has changed in the last few years. We are seeing more women in key development roles – that’s definitely the case here at Wrekin. I’ve felt hugely supported during my time here - I’ve been allowed to study for a degree and make real progress in my career.
“I still think there’s work to do across the sector. While we are seeing women project managers & quantity surveyors, there’s still a massive lack of female representation when it comes to carpenters, brick layers and ground workers.
“I love what I do. We're providing people with affordable homes for life. I think in terms of my career, I would like to stay within this sector for the coming years and continue to provide really good, comfortable, energy efficient homes for those in housing need.”
Plastering Apprentice Trish Barnes has been working for the Group since 2018 and is currently studying at Walsall College.
Trish said: "There were some doubts when I first started out. I was a few years older than my classmates and the only female in the group, but this hasn’t held me back. Wrekin have supported me from day one. They encourage me to put myself out there as a role model to other young women who might not have thought about working in construction."
"I'm really enjoying it. I would like to stay on at Wrekin when I've got my qualifications. I've got to know everyone and want to carry on working with the team but also to learn some new skills too. I know I'll be supported if I wanted to learn a different trade."
6th March 2023