Hayley

I started my career in nursing, working in the mental health sector specifically. After about six years, I felt I needed a career change and wanted to work in an office to diversify my skillset. I managed to get a job with Carillion – a construction and FM services company – and after starting out as a customer service agent, I went on to work for the company for 10 years, being promoted to a team leader. I absolutely loved that job and had progressed well, but unfortunately the company went into liquidation.

After that I spent some time trying different things, working in consulting and business administration, before eventually coming across the role at Bellrock. I was keen to get back into the sector so applied for an administrator role, but after hearing my experience during the interview they hired me as a team leader.

At the time I decided to leave nursing, I had a friend who was a training manager at Carillion who suggested I apply for the role. I didn’t go into the interview with any expectations, but I quickly fell in love with FM after I was hired. So much so that it felt like I’d lost a limb when I left!

It’s an industry with a family feel, where everyone really backs and supports each other. Every day is really different, and there are so many interesting, weird and wonderful projects. You never know what’s going to come your way, and that keeps it fresh and exciting.

In my previous role I had an amazing Team Leader who took me under her wing. If I’m being honest, we didn’t get on at first – we’re both passionate people. But after we wiped the slate clean things really clicked.  She then introduced me to Michelle Chapman who became my mentor and she had an amazing influence on me. I shadowed her, seeing how she conducted herself in a leadership role and how she was able to excel as a woman in a male-dominated industry. And she’s continued to do so. In 2021 she was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list with a BEM for services to the community in Bingley, West Yorkshire during Covid-19.

Previously, perhaps not – but today, yes. FM employers now want more women working in the sector to improve diversity and become more inclusive. It’s easy to suspect that as a box ticking exercise, but in my experience that’s not the case. Companies really value the different skillsets and insights that women can bring to the table, and there’s plenty of research out there which shows diverse teams are more productive, innovative and profitable.

It's great to see, and for young women there are plenty of opportunities. To them, I simply say go for it.

I would say the industry is in an “improving” phase. As a pansexual woman, I can say from an LGBTQ+ perspective, the sector could probably do better. In the case of inclusivity agendas, it would be good to have greater representation of people from the community helping to drive key initiatives and set the agenda.

Things are heading in the right direction, but they will take time. We’re still working in what is ultimately a traditional and male dominated industry, and awareness around the LGBTQ+ community is currently lagging behind.

There are changes that would be good to see. Having greater diversity in leadership positions across the sector broadly would be an incredible step forward. It’s important that young people have individuals that they can relate to look up to, and representation really matters.