Celebrating Women in our Industry

International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global day celebrating achievements of women across all aspects of life. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

As International Women’s Day is just two weeks away (March 8), FTMA is celebrating women in our industry. Today, we put the spotlight on three women who not only enjoy working in the timber frame and truss industry, but are proud to do so.

What does your role at entail?
Over the years, it has entailed day to day tasks of

• Credit limits and new account openings after due process with Trade credit checks
• Preparation of all purchases for payment at set dates for head office.
• Checking off stock take sheets on site each three months
• Answering and providing answers for random Audit checks
• Being part of a team and working with each other amicably.

How did you find your way into the truss and frame sector?

My father started Belmont Timber, which would later become M.B Prefab Framing, and in the early 80s whilst visiting him at work, I was handed the admin paperwork and haven’t left since. I have been an employee, a shareholder, a director and now back to an employee and l was Clive and Doug’s “silent partner” in so many ways, until it was no more.

What part of your job do you enjoy the most and why?

I love working with figures and solving problems.

I enjoy the interaction with anyone who comes to visit me, in my office away from the main office, from management, reception, anyone from the factory floor, truck drivers and forklift drivers.

It really doesn’t matter who they are. I am more than happy with my own company and some days l don’t get to see many people, but that doesn’t matter either.

What makes you proud of your work?

I don’t think of my work as separate to the overall manufacturing of our floor trusses, walls and roof trusses.  I am just a part of the final production and that is when l feel the pride in the load being taken to build someone’s house and then home. I would point out to my kids and grandson, “that is one of ours”, when l saw a frame on site.

What advice would you give to young women considering entering the industry?

Today anything is possible for the generations who are coming through our schools now.

Find what you like doing and go for it. Life is short and you need to be wanting to get up and go to work, rather than just going for the pay packet.

My nephew, Leigh Maxwell, has his own building company and he has a young woman as an apprentice.

He mentioned that she is one of the best apprentices that he has ever had, as she gets to work, finds out what she must do and then does it. No moaning and groaning … she just got on with what was required of her.

The saying “the world is your oyster” is so true.

WHATEVER YOU MAKE UP YOUR MIND TO DO, YOU CAN DO.  GO GIRL GO.

What does your role entail?

B: Building frames and trusses including mailing, stapling, cutting jobs on the saws, and working in a team to make house frames or roof trusses.

K: Making timber frame and trusses. Cutting the timber to size, assembling them and sending to sites.

How did you find your way into the frame and truss sector?

B: I’ve always enjoyed hands on work and when I saw an ad for frame and truss work, I like the sound of it and applied.

K: Through a friend.

What part of your job do you enjoy most and why?

B: I enjoy assembling and getting use the tools, because I just like to learn more hands-on skills. Also working in a group is good, getting to talk to the team.

K: The people I work with, the environment and the hands-on physical work.

What makes you proud of your work?

B: I always want to do a good job, so I’m proud of working hard to build good quality frames and trusses for our clients. I always want to do the best I can and am proud to keep doing this, as it’s what I want to do.

K: The way I always push myself to be the best at anything I do, especially my work ethic.

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is #EmbraceEquity. Is there anything you think the industry could do to embrace equity and create a more inclusive environment?

B: No, I don’t think so. I am lucky to be treated the same way as everyone else and am very happy with my workplace. The industry though should be more open to giving girls a change, because we  can do the work just as well.

K: No, I think this workplace welcomes us and makes everything equal.

What advice would you give to young women considering entering the industry?

B: Just go for it. If this is what you want to do, nothing can stop you.

K: You can go down any career path you wish. We can do anything a bloke can do, you just need to push yourself and go for it!