Deconstructing the construct
The year was 1995. I was just 17 and had abruptly left 6th form, abandoning 4 A – levels in mainstream education to specialise in the Construction Industry. My decision wasn’t necessarily a tough one; I knew I wanted a career, not a job.
Certainly, a career that would offer flexibility and freedom from being desk-bound five days a week and one that would provide tangible results for my labour. Well, construction does, doesn’t it!. It must have been an early passion, a fascination for buildings and architecture and an innate drive that would set me up for the challenge.
Which of course challenging it was going to be.
The construction industry is, of course, male-dominated and indeed was at that time. We were in the days of hairy builders’ bums dangerously peaking above straining waistbands. The rough and the ready, the dirty, dusty building sites. Stereotyping, of course; however, you get the point and the image.
I knew that I knew absolutely nothing. I did not possess much of a technical mind, and I certainly did not have the physical acumen to be handy with tools. I was the very essence of an absolute beginner, and this gave me the grace and space to start from the very bottom. Ears open, mind open and wrapped innocently in the cloak of knowing nothing helped me much. I began work as a trainee surveyor with day release to a local technical college to study.
From this starting place of an absolute beginner, I was utterly oblivious of the notion that there even was a girl/boy divide. That the industry being male-dominated would even matter to a small ginger girl starting from the very bottom. I didn’t understand how the higher ratio of males might affect my training, my position, how I was perceived or treated or the opportunities that that would come my way.
This driving ignorance saved me many, many times as I continued, carving my way through the industry. Only ever focusing on learning, growing and improving my skill set to be able to do the job I was there for and do it well, plus the respect of my peers. That is all I’ve ever strived for, those core goals have taken me from trainee surveyor to surveyor, to senior surveyor, to project manager, to associate and to director. I’ve worked for main contractors, consulted direct to clients and now run an independent consultancy practise with a client base of landmark institutions, the great and the good, international stars, royalty and football personalities.
This last year, I was named an Ambassador for Women in Construction and featured as one of the top 500 Humans of Construction by London Build. The Chartered Institute of Building has also nominated me as regional Ambassador for building and construction. I have been featured in Development Finance Today, Qandor Magazine, various podcasts and video interviews and talked at industry conferences and speaking events. I am hugely fortunate and always utterly surprised by the opportunities that now come my way; I am still just a little ginger girl trying to make a name for herself as a Quantity Surveyor and gain the respect of her peers. I reflect on my career path and at this point, conclude that if you want to succeed in any industry, you can’t dive in and then complain about how it is. That’s not how to achieve success, and that’s not how to make an impact. It is undoubtedly, only by fully immersing yourself into your chosen field, that you create an opportunity to be the change that grows from the inside.
Take with you narrow-minded and laser-sharp focus. Let your motivation be the things that matter, do a job and do it well. Ignore the environment, the restrictions and the social conditioning and let your drive push you all the way.
With respect
Not your average QS, Michelle Lowe.