The Finance Director at Nottingham-based Barratt and David Wilson Homes North Midlands has highlighted her experiences of diversity for Women in Construction Week (3rd to 9th March).
This week aims to celebrate and highlight the significant role of women in the construction industry. With International Women’s Day also falling within the week (8th March), this year’s campaign theme, #InspireInclusion, strives for a world where gender equality thrives without bias, stereotypes, or discrimination.
Alex O’Donnell (45), who joined the developer’s team in 1998 as an Accounts Assistant and climbed the career ladder to the role of Finance Director, reflects on her experience with diversity in the industry.
Based at the developer’s regional office in Nottingham, Alex’s oversees all financial aspects of the housebuilder and manages a team with strict calendar deadlines.
Reflecting on one of her previous roles as Head of Financial Planning and Analysis within Barratt and David Wilson Homes, Alex recalls the challenge of initially leading a small team.
Her mandate was to establish a department and cultivate a ‘go-to’ team to excel, particularly in data and analysis – a task that was not previously centralised. Her success in this endeavour has left behind a highly competent and respected team, a legacy she is proud of.
Drawn to the dynamic and rewarding nature of the housebuilding industry, Alex notes a positive shift in diversity during her tenure and acknowledges that progress continues to unfold.
She said: “I was quite young when I started with the company, but houses are something that anyone can associate with, and no site or house is ever the same. I have enjoyed staying in the industry to experience how cyclical the housebuilding market is, and how Barratt and David Wilson Homes has continually adapted to meet the challenges faced.
“While historically the construction industry has been perceived as male-dominated, I believe that there has been a positive shift over time.
“I think it has inherently been a male-dominated industry due to the nature of building houses and site work, but I’ve seen this change and I love visiting sites and meeting other females working there.
“Although I am in finance which potentially has always had a higher proportion of females than other departments, there were very few females in senior positions until recent years.
“I think this has been helped with flexible working and the ability to work around childcare which has encouraged the return to work and aspirations to continue to climb up the career ladder.”
Recognising the significance of encouraging more women to enter traditionally male-dominated sectors, Alex underscores the invaluable contributions that women bring to the construction industry.
She said: “I think women can bring a fresh perspective to the industry. This can be things such as problem solving, organisational and planning skills.
“At Barratt and David Wilson Homes, there are a number of initiatives in place to ensure a wide range of applicants are aware of positions within the company and a diverse recruitment process. We also create diversity and inclusion committees across the company to feedback initiatives and ideas to support a more inclusive workplace, and create and adapt policies to ensure this meets the needs of all employees from a variety of backgrounds.
“I believe Barratt and David Wilson Homes is genuine in its approach to increasing the number of females in the company. It’s supportive in ensuring all roles are available to women.”
When asked for her advice to give to women who are considering a career within the construction industry, Alex said: “Explore any role you are interested in and trust the industry has changed. Don’t make assumptions that any of the roles available are not suitable for a woman and be confident in your decisions.”
For more information about the career opportunities available at Barratt and David Wilson Homes, visit the website at Barratt Careers.
For details about any developments in the county, visit the websites at Barratt Homes in Nottinghamshire and David Wilson Homes in Nottinghamshire.
