With women representing just 15 per cent of the UK’s property and construction workforce, Jay Lewis, 21, highlights the benefits of a career in housebuilding…
Having joined Linden Homes as a business administration apprentice in April 2015, Jay completed her apprenticeship and achieved an NVQ level two. Her commitment was recognised and she was swiftly promoted to trainee site manager at the company’s popular Greyfriars Quarter development in the centre of Gloucester.
Responsible for assisting the site team, Jay works alongside project manager, Paul Latham, to ensure the new homes are delivered to a high quality, on time and on budget.
“Jay really impressed us throughout her apprenticeship,” Mick Arnold, production director for Linden Homes said. “She’s very dedicated and working in a male-dominated industry didn’t phase her at all. She rolls up her sleeves and gets right into the job and this commitment has earnt her respect from all her colleagues.
“We have two female trainee site managers working for us in the Western region and we’d definitely encourage more women to consider the role in future. A career in housebuilding offers a wide variety of job roles from land buyer to technical manager, labourer to surveyor and we regularly welcome schools to site to help inspire future generations.”
Jay is from Churchdown and attended Chosen Hill School. She lives with her family and her dog, a whippet called Dakota. She enjoys BMXing and was once paid to travel the UK promoting girls in extreme sports, where she rode a BMX in the big indoor parks.
Commenting on her career in the housebuilding industry, Jay said: “My project manager, Paul has been a great mentor and really took me under his wing in the early days. I’m now working towards a level four NVQ in site management and love being on site – the camaraderie is just brilliant.
“A typical day involves assisting in the running of the site, health and safety paperwork, on site health and safety checks, working with different trades and meeting with customers. I am so pleased that I chose housebuilding; many people think of it as a career for men but I am happy to be changing that misconception.”
Now, more than ever, there is a strong focus to encourage more women into housebuilding and #PressforProgress.
-ENDS-
Media can contact Emma Mackay on 077383 12960 for more information, images and interviews with Linden Homes.
References to “we”, “us” or “our” are to the part of the Vistry Group (including Linden Homes, Bovis Homes, Countryside Homes, Drew Smith, Vistry Ventures or one of Vistry’s joint venture companies) from which you are intending to purchase a new home. References to "you” and “your” are to the prospective buyer or buyers of a new home from us.
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