Celebrating Women in Construction Week 2025

The UK faces a severe skills shortage in trade occupations, with too few skilled workers to meet demand. This is especially true in construction, plumbing, electrics, joinery, and roofing. Many experienced tradespeople are retiring, and not enough new workers are joining to replace them. The demand for home repairs, maintenance, and new housing is rising.

Attracting more women to the construction industry helps expand the workforce by opening a large pool of untapped talent. It also helps fill gaps and ensures homes are repaired and maintained faster.

Diverse teams bring fresh ideas, better problem-solving, and improved decision-making. Whether in leadership, repairs, or customer service, a mix of voices leads to better results.

This is why Thirteen is celebrating Women in Construction Week, and we will keep working for change all year round. 

Across Thirteen, talented women are working in a variety of interesting roles. From electricians and plumbers to surveyors and team leaders, these women bring skill, passion, and fresh ideas to their work every day.

But how did they get here? What inspired them to take this path? And what advice would they give to other women thinking about a career in construction?

In this special feature, we hear from some of the incredible women at Thirteen. They share their journeys, challenges, and the moments that made them proud.

Joanne Brown

Senior Repairs Manager

Jo is our Senior Repairs Manager, with the teams delivering over 14,000 repairs a month, this is a mammoth task! Jo answers our questions on her career so far:

What inspired you to start training for your role? 

I started working at SBC in 2001, always working within Repairs & Maintenance department.  Seeing my colleagues in different roles, i.e. Team Leaders/Managers etc inspired me to want to further my career and carry out the required training to enable me to do this.  It was put on hold due to having children, but as soon as my personal life allowed me to, I applied for funding to complete a HNC in building studies to help further my career

Can you tell us about your training journey?   

   - Where did you begin? 

I began my HNC in Building studies at Teesside University in 2015

   - How long was it? 

The course was completed in 2 years – I had weekly day release to complete the course.

If you could give advice to someone considering training, what would it be? 

If this is the route in a career you wish to go, I would recommend the building studies course to provide you with the construction knowledge needed if you haven’t got a trade background. 

Did you always work in this industry, or did you switch from another field? 

I have worked in the industry since I was 18 years old.  My first role was on a week-to-week contract at housing services repairs for SBC

If you could offer any advice to someone currently employed in a trade role elsewhere, what would you say is the biggest benefit of working for Thirteen? 

It’s a great place to work and we really embed the females in construction.  We are lucky enough to have females in all tiers in the department which can put other females at ease, especially trade operatives as they have a female manager to mentor and support them, recent feedback from interviews shows that this is a selling point to females applying for trade roles.

What gives you the biggest amount of job satisfaction? 

I am passionate about repairs and providing customers with a great repairs service is satisfying.  I get the most satisfaction when I see compliments coming in for the great work our operatives complete as well as the satisfaction results from our customers.

Can you share a memorable moment or milestone since you began? 

My biggest milestone has been getting employed as Senior Repairs Manager, this has made all my hard work and dedication work while.

What do you love most about your job now? 

I love the responsiveness of working in repairs and the fact that every day is different.  It’s impossible to predict what a day working in repairs will look like.  The people in the department are amazing and all customer focussed which is great.  I can’t see myself working in another department to be honest.

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Tracy Jones

Repairs Services Manager

Tracy has worked in housing for 26 years and her role looks after Customer Ambassador, Work Planning, Damp & Mould Admin and Empty Property Support Teams. Tracy takes us through her career so far:

I did a HNC qualification in housing that was funded by my employer, so it was a win-win for me, because I was working full-time, but released to go to college one day a week to gain a professional qualification.

I would advise anyone considering training in this field to go for it!  There are various routes such as apprenticeships where you are working and gaining valuable workplace experience but are also gaining a qualification.

Throughout my 26 years of working in housing, I’ve had lots of different roles, worked in different teams, for different organisations both locally, regionally and nationally!

My first role in housing was as PA to The Director of Housing.  I then moved on to working in Supported Housing providing support to 16–25-year-olds.  I then moved on to a role in General Needs Housing as a Housing Officer.  I left social housing for a while and worked for a private company as Housing Consultant, providing advice and staff and tenant training.  After several years I moved back to working in housing associations in Community Development and Customer Engagement roles.

Throughout school I had always wanted to be a teacher but decided that I didn’t wanted to go to university, so my career choice was really a non-starter!  In July 2018 I saw an advert for a role at Thirteen for a Tutor of Housing & Property Management – I felt that this would be my dream job because it incorporated my passion to be a teacher with passion for housing.  I was successful in securing this role, but unfortunately after a review the in-house tutoring project wasn’t viable, and I found myself at risk of redundancy.  This didn’t deter me, and I secured a role working in the Leasehold Team – this was a completely new area of housing for me, but I saw it as a new challenge and the opportunity to gain additional experience.

In November 2020 I joined the repairs team as a Customer Ambassador Team Leader, after less than a year in this role I was successful in securing a promotion into my current role of Repairs Services Team Leader. 

I get the biggest amount of job satisfaction when I see collaborative working across all teams to make sure that we are getting things right for our customers.  Sometimes having to think outside the box, sometimes picking up tasks that my team or I wouldn’t usually have to, but in doing so improve the customer journey.

A milestone for me since joining Thirteen was securing my role as Repairs Services Manager.  Whilst I had a lot of experience in housing, I had very little experience of working in repairs, but I applied for the role firmly believing that I could make a difference. 

The things that I love most about my job are:

• having the opportunity to be able to support customers to ensure that they are getting the best possible customer service in their repairs journey.
• my team – I oversee the Customer Ambassador, Work Planning, Damp & Mould Admin and Empty Property Support Teams, they are quite honestly the best!  Resilient, hard-working and just generally fantastic!

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Sarah Johnstone

Repairs Team Leader (Adaptations)

As a Repairs Team Leader which looks after adaptations, Sarah helps keep things running smoothly by making sure the adaptations team is well-organised and efficient - which is crucial in ensuring people can live independently. The role includes supporting the team with training, performance reviews, and health and safety checks. 

What inspired you to start training for your role? 

I worked as a H&S rep for Unite the union and worked closely with trades. I also enjoy making an impact on vulnerable customers who want to remain in their homes by having adaptations provided.

Where did your career begin? 

I started at Thirteen in the homeless team then moved to be a housing assistant then housing officer (now known housing co-ordinator) supporting our customers and enforcing the tenancy agreements

If you could give advice to someone considering training in this field, what would it be? 

If you’re interested speak to someone in a similar post, ask to do job shadowing and see if it’s something you’re really interested in pursuing and looking at what support/qualification Thirteen can support you gain to achieve your goals.

Who were your previous employers before Thirteen?

Previous employment was in Housing benefits and DWP Income support so always been in a similar service area supporting customers in social housing.

If you could offer any advice to someone currently employed in a trade role elsewhere, what would you say is the biggest benefit of working for Thirteen? 

Team leaders and managers will offer any shadowing that will help you progress in the job and always give advice.

What gives you the biggest amount of job satisfaction? 

The changes in our customers’ ability to live independently. Being part of an amazing supportive team who do care about our customers and each other.

Can you share a memorable moment or milestone since you began? 

Changing a level access plan of work on the day we were meant to start to give the customer a better plan of works to assist with long term health needs and also creating an app to make our work load easier to manage ensuring customers get the jobs completed with ease and within timescales.

What do you love most about your job now? 

• Helping others.
• Supporting staff within my team emotionally and to progress to other jobs within the company that suits their skillset.
• Customers giving them the best possible service as the little things like a grab rail allowing a disabled customer the independence of putting her own bin out makes me happy.

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Steph Lawlor

Director of Repairs and Maintenance 

A career in construction wasn’t always part of Steph Lawlor’s plan. At 16, she was training to be a PE teacher, but a work experience placement at Thirteen changed everything. That opportunity led to a part-time job in the repairs team, and before long, Steph found herself enjoying the work more than her degree. She made the bold decision to leave Durham University and pursue a Higher National Certificate in building at Teesside University instead.

That decision paid off. By the age of 24, Steph was managing a team of 32 operatives—some of whom had been in the trade longer than her own 24 years. Now, at just 39, she is Director of Repairs and Maintenance at Thirteen, leading a team of hundreds.

 “A 24-year-old girl, in their eyes, telling grown men how to do the job—that wasn’t easy. Steph recalls. “I got a lot of pushback. I’ve heard things like, ‘You’re a woman, what do you know?’ And sometimes, even now, those attitudes haven’t completely disappeared. But I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Steph’s journey has been shaped by determination, hard work, and her passion for making a difference. Growing up, her dad worked in repairs management while her mam was a nurse. Following in her father’s footsteps wasn’t seen as a typical career path for a woman, but she knew it was the right choice for her.

“I remember how daunting it was to swap my planned career for one in construction,” she says. “There was so much to learn, from building regulations to health and safety. I took every opportunity to develop my knowledge, moving through roles in repairs, investment, customer liaison, project management, and then into management.”

Today, Steph leads one of the largest teams at Thirteen, overseeing hundreds of skilled tradespeople who work tirelessly to keep homes safe and well-maintained. No two days are the same, and the challenges are constant, but she thrives in the fast-paced environment.

“We can’t always plan for everything, but as a team, we rise to every challenge,” she says.

As a female leader in a male-dominated field, Steph is committed to breaking down barriers for other women who want to follow a similar path. She fully supports Thirteen’s mission to champion equality, diversity, and inclusion, and actively mentors’ women entering the industry. Through buddying schemes and strong female role models at every level within her department, she ensures that women feel supported and encouraged to succeed. This commitment is endorsed through being selected as the chair’s choice award at the Direct Works Awards and her team’s success in the National Women in Construction awards.

Her advice to women considering a career in construction?

“Give it a go. If it’s something you want to do, don’t let anything hold you back. The male colleagues I’ve worked with have been incredibly supportive, and once you take that first step, you’ll never look back.”

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Jade Featherstone

Repairs Team Leader

Jade is now one of our Repairs Team Leaders having started her career as an apprentice joiner, she has a fantastic understanding of the day-to-day jobs within our customers’ homes.

As a Repairs Team Leader, Jade helps keep things running smoothly by making sure the Repairs & Maintenance Service is well-organised and efficient. The role includes supporting the team with training, performance reviews, and health and safety checks. She also monitors key targets, works with contractors to ensure quality and value for money, and uses data to shape how services are delivered.

Below Jade answers some questions on her career so far:

What inspired you to start training for this trade? 

My Dad and Grandad are both joiners, so I wanted to follow in their footsteps

 Where did your career begin? 

I started when I was around 14 years old, and I completed work experience with my Dad at the company he worked for. I loved it and knew it was what I wanted to do as a career. Then I applied for a joinery apprenticeship when I was leaving school and secured a placement at the same company that I completed my work experience.

My apprenticeship took three years with four days on site and one day at college.

If you could give advice to someone considering training in this field, what would it be? 

Stick with it once you start. It is a lot to learn and a long process, but you will get there and obtain skills for life. I would also say try and secure a role at a company before starting the apprenticeship as finding a placement can be difficult.

Did you work for someone else doing this trade role before you joined Thirteen?

 If so where: I worked at a company called CJM which did carry out similar works to Thirteen group as we did have a maintenance contract with Tristar at the time. We also carried out works for the local councils, so working in public buildings and schools.

Did you always work in this industry, or did you switch from another field? 

I did complete around two years of painting and decorating when the recession hit due to struggling to find joinery works. Otherwise, I have always been a joiner.

If you could offer any advice to someone currently employed in a trade role elsewhere, what would you say is the biggest benefit of working for Thirteen? 

I liked the variety of working for Thirteen , you can work across different areas of the business and cover multiple trades. I would say the job security is also a great pull along with the holidays and development opportunities.

What gives you the biggest amount of job satisfaction? 

Seeing a job through and the customer being happy at the final outcome.

Can you share a memorable moment or milestone since you began?

 Either winning a brick award (Thirteen’s internal colleague awards) for trade of the year or becoming a team leader and supporting the trades best I can.

What do you love most about your job now? 

Supporting the trades to get jobs done and keep customers happy.

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Gemma Hanwell

Site Supervisor 

Gemma is one of Thirteen’s Site Supervisors, whose job it is to ensure that our construction projects are completed on time. Gemma started with repairs as a planner, overseeing various trade groups. She found it exciting to learn about the different trades, and she knew that she wanted to progress within Thirteen. This is her career journey so far:

Can you tell us about your training journey?   

Through Thirteen funding I was able to gain a BTEC in Construction & Built Environment which ran through the time of covid and online learning. I then received funding from Thirteen for my HNC Building Studies.

Where did you begin your career? 

I began at Thirteen as a planner for repairs covering maternity cover. I then gained a permanent position and went on to become a senior planner which was a new role created to assist the planning team leader.

 If you could give advice to someone considering training in this field, what would it be? 

I’d definitely recommend going for it. The HNC is an excellent course, and the tutors were fantastic. I gained valuable industry knowledge, and it was great to attend the course alongside other Thirteen employees, as the support over the two years was incredibly helpful.

Did you work for someone else doing your role before you joined Thirteen? If so where: 

I worked for a private letting agents as an administration assistant which is where I gained in an NVQ in business admin.

If you could offer any advice to someone currently employed in a trade role elsewhere, what would you say is the biggest benefit of working for Thirteen? 

Thirteen is an excellent place for career progression, offering a supportive environment that encourages growth. I’m truly grateful for the investment they’ve made in me, from funding my course to providing valuable internal training. The opportunities for development here have not only enhanced my skills but also reinforced my commitment to continuing my career with Thirteen. The support I’ve received has played a huge role in shaping my professional journey.

What do you love most about your job now? 

Although I’ve only been in this role since January, I’m really enjoying being out on site, meeting new people, and picking up new skills. After completing my HNC in May, I was eager to apply the knowledge I gained, and when this role became available, I knew it would be the perfect opportunity to put that knowledge to good use.

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Heidi Laverick

Repairs Manager

Heidi is one of our Repairs Managers. Heidi ensures that her team delivers a high-quality service and meets performance targets. She acts as the link between managers and the trade workforce, motivating staff and leading by example with a positive, can-do attitude. She identifies areas for improvement, introduces solutions, and ensures continuous service development. Managing performance is a key part of her role, including absence management, training, and one-to-one support. Working collaboratively, she helps shape an innovative and forward-thinking service. She also oversees contractor management, ensures health and safety compliance, and uses data to drive service improvements.

Did you work for someone else doing your role before you joined Thirteen?: 

No, I’ve been at Thirteen for 16 Years. I started my working career at Thirteen in the Housing Services Department as a Housing Coordinator, worked my way up to Manager and oved across into Repairs with my transferable skills three years ago as a Team Leader and then progressed to Manager.

If you could offer any advice to someone currently employed elsewhere, what would you say is the biggest benefit of working for Thirteen? 

Largest landlord in the North East, great benefits, job satisfaction, a great day at work, great benefits.

What gives you the biggest amount of job satisfaction? 

The work I deliver in adaptations for our most vulnerable customers.

 Can you share a memorable moment or milestone since you began? 

Achieving my Repairs Manager role.

 What do you love most about your job now? 

The job satisfaction I get and managing people.