Eden

Last year I graduated from Reading with a degree in Construction Management and Surveying and went straight to work for John Rowan and Partners, which is owned by Bellrock. I came across the opportunity to join the graduate scheme here at a university fair around Christmas time in 2022, having been recommended it by another student who I knew. After speaking to a few of the grads there, I knew it would be a good move and fortunately I managed to get in! 

I have some family background in the construction industry and I remember going out to sites with my dad in his van. Growing up I loved any type of model construction kit, especially Meccano, so I suppose it has always been with me subconsciously. I also took a liking to maths and art, so perhaps it was inevitable I would end up heading down this path. The support from my family has been important. I was aware that construction generally was a male-dominated sector, but my mum is very strong-willed and she, along with the rest of my family have always rooted for me. I was also in good company on my university course, with a good proportion of the group being women, and I also work with great women here at JRP. At no point have I felt that I can’t succeed in this space. 

I see first-hand what it takes to progress into more advanced roles, and I am excited to get there and succeed. Although I don’t have any specific targets set in stone, what I can say is that Bellrock is a great company for professional and personal growth. My line manager also went to Reading as a student and graduated six years ago, and there are many more people within the business that I look up to. Everybody here is extremely helpful and caring, and it really does feel like a family.

If you are having any doubts about the opportunities in the construction and surveying world, don’t let that hold you back. There is a lot of preconceived bias about women being in the construction industry but from my experience so far, I have seen nothing to suggest that women cannot succeed, and the sector needs more bright-minded women. Go as far as you are willing to push yourself.

Site visits and on the ground experience for those starting out. I found this to be extremely valuable during my university course – it gives you the opportunity to see how what you study is applied in the real world. We are actually inviting a group of Reading students up to our site soon, which is something I am looking forward to being involved with.

More generally, I think the sector needs to somehow generate more awareness among younger generations about the career opportunities it can offer. I had the fortune of family ties to the sector, and even I wasn’t fully aware of what surveying was until quite a late stage. If more school-age students knew about the potential career paths, I am certain we would see a lot more uptake.