When Gail Patterson joined the construction industry 10 years ago it was not uncommon for her to be in meetings with 20 other professionals and be the only female in the room.
Now, a decade later, the Design Manager with award winning construction and fit out company, Gilbert-Ash believes it’s an exciting time for women in construction and a career she has no hesitation in recommending to other females.
Gail said: “I still go onto projects for a meeting, and I will be the only woman, that’s indicative of the history of the construction industry but things are changing fast.
“I love it whenever there are strong women on my projects, and I am really starting to see this more and more. The last few projects that I have worked on have been well balanced and it is great to work in a diverse environment. I am also seeing more women in site-based construction roles, which is fantastic.”
Gail’s comment comes as Gilbert-Ash continues its Make Your Mark campaign, aimed at attracting the best people in the industry to join the company. The campaign also seeks to celebrate Gilbert-Ash’s people for the difference they are making on stand out projects for the contractor.
The company is riding high at the minute and last year one of their recent projects, the refurbishment of the National Portrait Gallery was shortlisted for the Stirling Prize. It’s the fifth time one of the firm’s projects have made the prestigious final, with the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool winning in 2014.
Gail’s path into construction came via a burgeoning career in architecture, but since joining Gilbert-Ash in 2015 she hasn’t looked back and is now setting her sights on further developing the company’s design department.
She said: “The development of the design management role has been one of the big changes during my time in the industry. When I started, there were two other design managers in our team at Gilbert-Ash, now there are over 10 of us and I am delighted to say that we have an equal gender split.
“My future lies with Gilbert-Ash, it’s a great company to be part of. I’m excited to continue to develop our design management team and meet the challenges of what’s to come for the industry, such as changes to fire regulations and advances in sustainable design.
“It’s such a fast-paced industry at the minute and I really enjoy that element.”
Gail made the move to construction after graduating from the University of Bath and working for three years with one of the UK’s outstanding architecture practises, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios.
She said: “I have always been interested in a balance between technical and creative design and this led to my decision to study architecture.
“I loved my time as an architect and it was great to work on projects such as the Ulster University’s Belfast Campus, but I found myself wanting to be more involved in the actual construction of buildings rather than just the design.
“Once I learnt of the Design Management role, this was a natural progression for my career. My architectural experience gave me an excellent grounding to meet the complexities of the role and I discovered that getting out onto construction sites and collaborating with different teams was something I am very passionate about.
“Working with Gilbert-Ash provides opportunities to work on projects which you might not get the chance to elsewhere and you are trusted and encouraged to really make your mark on those projects.
“I’m responsible for the coordination of design processes between design teams, consultants, subcontractors, suppliers and my internal team on site. My day-to-day work is extremely varied and evolves as each project progresses.
It’s such a wide-ranging role, working across packages in all disciplines and I enjoy the variety and the opportunity to be involved with every element of the project from foundations through to landscaping.
“I love the collaboration and teamwork but also the requirement to work autonomously and to be pro-active in what you do. The role requires you to manage yourself and the teams you work with and demands a certain amount of resilience to solve problems and meet project objectives within programme and budget requirements.”
Gail has no hesitation in recommending Gilbert-Ash to anyone who is passionate about a career in construction or wants to move to a firm where they will get opportunities to work on outstanding projects.
She said: “I can honestly say joining Gilbert-Ash was an excellent career choice for me. If you are excited about the prospect of a career in construction and have that drive, then I would absolutely recommend this career.
“A career with Gilbert-Ash will allow you to amplify your talent, unlock your potential.
“My job is extremely rewarding but also very demanding. Every day can be challenging as it’s such a broad role with lots to learn. I still learn something new every day, which I love.
“My job is hugely satisfying – there have been times when I have walked through a completed building, and it can be quite emotional as you remember every stage of the build and the challenges which had to be worked through.
“These big projects are often across a number of years, It is all-encompassing, you really put your heart and soul into delivering for the team and for the client. The relationships you build, not just within Gilbert-Ash, but also with clients, design teams and consultants are key to the success of each project.”
Gilbert-Ash has earned a reputation for delivering generational projects, such as the National Portrait Gallery, the Royal College of Music and the Everyman Theatre.
