Cambridgeshire housebuilder celebrates international women’s day with inspiring assistant site manager

Whilst the number of female construction workers has increased steadily in recent years, the proportion of women in the industry is still significantly lower, something which the housebuilder is keen to change.

Among Barratt and David Wilson Homes’ female employees is Katie Sparham, an Assistant Site Manager based at the Darwin Green development in Cambridge.

Katie joined Barratt and David Wilson Homes three years ago, returning to a career path she first considered more than a decade earlier. Reflecting on her career journey, she wishes she’d known at school just how many career paths exist within construction which is a sector far broader and more diverse than she first realised.

Katie said: “I first thought about working in housebuilding around twelve years ago, but at the time I didn’t have the qualifications, and was focused on raising my young children.

“Over the years, my interest in this industry grew as I renovated my own home and watched home renovation programmes. Seeing how transforming a space can completely uplift someone really inspired me and helped me realise I wanted to create that same positive impact for others.

“Everyone deserves a home that feels like a sanctuary, a safe and welcoming place to relax with family and friends.

“When I was at school, construction wasn’t something I ever considered. I just pictured hard hats, boots and scaffolding and it didn’t occur to me that there were so many different roles behind the scenes. As I learnt more about the industry, I realised that while on‑site work is still more male‑dominated, areas such as sales, engineering and technical design are far more balanced.

“Being out on site is one of the things I enjoy most. I’m never bored as every day brings new challenges and new things to learn, and working with such a variety of people makes the job incredibly rewarding.”

According to CIOB, women make up 15% of the UK construction industry, with approximately 2 per cent working on-site.

Katie continued: “Encouraging more women into construction is so important. Diversity brings different strengths, perspectives and ways of working which makes a team stronger.

“I think companies like Barratt and David Wilson Homes are already taking positive steps through its graduate schemes and apprenticeships, but I’d love to see schools and universities doing more to show young people the range of careers available. Construction isn’t just the unglamorous image people often picture as there are so many avenues to explore.

“My advice to any woman considering a career in construction is go for it! If you have the enthusiasm and interest, you can bring something completely new to the table.”

With a number of female employees already in a range of roles across the company, the housebuilder is reminding women from all skill sets of the different roles available and is encouraging them to put their experience to the industry.

Ben Kalus, Managing Director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes South Midlands, said: “The construction industry offers a wealth of career opportunities, many of which people are simply not aware of. From engineering and site management to customer service and commercial roles, women bring invaluable skills to every part of our business.

“Our priority is to open doors, provide meaningful development and make sure women see construction as a place where they can build long‑term, rewarding careers.”

Some roles within the industry include those based on site, such as Electricians, Plasterers, Engineers, Forklift Drivers, Scaffolders, Bricklayers, Site Managers and Contracts Managers.

For those at head office, roles include Architectural Technicians, Surveyors, Land and Planning Managers, Estimators, Buyers and Finance Administrators.

To learn more about the career opportunities available, visit the website at Barratt Careers.

For more information about any nearby developments, visit Barratt Homes in Cambridgeshire and David Wilson Homes in Cambridgeshire.