We caught up with Beth to find out more about her career journey.
- Tell us about your role at Lovell.
I first joined Lovell as a management trainee, working in the buying and procurement department. I then moved into commercial operations, which I loved as it gave me the variety of being in the office and also being on site. I worked my way up through the company and after more than two decades with Lovell, was asked to take over the role of Regional Managing Director for our newly established East Midlands operation. I’ve been in my current role since the beginning of 2023 and it’s been an amazing journey so far!
- What appealed to you about working in the construction industry?
The variety was a huge draw, and I’m also a massive people person so enjoyed being able to get out and about. As I’ve progressed in my career, I think a big part of the appeal is also being able to make a transformational change to the areas we work in. I spent time working on our Miles Platting scheme in Manchester and our Castleward site in Derby, seeing the difference between what it was when we started work there to what it is now, is phenomenal.
- What was your route into the industry?
I was always good at maths at school and was pretty academic, but having started at university, I realised it wasn’t the right path for me. My dad was an accountant so I considered following in his footsteps, but I didn’t want to be sat behind a desk all the time. A family friend suggested becoming a quantity surveyor, as you have the maths side but it’s also people-oriented, so that’s the path I ended up following! Lovell paid for me to complete my degree in Quantity Surveying part-time, while also getting on the job training, which was a fantastic way in.
- What advice would you give to other women looking to get into the industry?
It’s never too late, so just embrace the opportunity. The industry is so much more diverse than you might think, whether you want to work in sales and marketing, bricklaying or quantity surveying, there’s something there for every skillset. I’ve had so much support throughout my time at Lovell and would seriously encourage anyone thinking about coming into the industry to just go for it.
- Why’s it so important to have a diverse construction sector?
The more diversity we have, the more we are able to innovate. Diversity allows us to introduce different perspectives, ideas and ways of working, which is absolutely crucial for a dynamic sector such as construction. More diversity equals more positive change and progress, which is what we’re all about here at Lovell.
Stay tuned for the next instalment of our Women in Construction Week series, where we’ll be shining a light on the career of another inspirational women from within the business!
