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IWD 2022: Mercury’s father-daughter EHS team speak about Women in Construction
As part of our International Women’s Day celebrations, we are renewing our ‘Women in Construction’ series which focuses on interviews with Mercury’s female employees and their allies. The first of this week’s articles features Amy Doyle, EHS advisor, and Fred Doyle, EHS Training Lead, who are a father and daughter EHS team for our Advanced Technology Business Unit.
Amy and Fred spoke about how we each have a part to play in inspiring the next generation of females in the construction industry and provided some insight into how they balance their professional and personal relationship while working as a team. Amy has spent the past eighteen months working alongside her father at our Off-site Assembly facility in Co. Kildare, Ireland and is now taking up a role as Junior EHS Advisor on a nearby Advanced Technology project.
You can read Amy and Fred’s full interview below.
Why is it important to celebrate International Women’s Day?
Amy: “I think it’s very important that we celebrate International Women’s Day to show how far women have come. It’s nice to respect and highlight all women who have, and who continue to fight for equality.”
Fred: “As a manager and a father I think it’s vital to celebrate IWD to show the progress women have made. It’s great to come into work and see more and more women in the construction industry. We’ve recently expanded our EHS team in Co. Kildare and have hired a new, female training coordinator to take on Amy’s duties when she departs our team.”
What can parents do to encourage their daughters to consider a career in the construction industry?
Fred: “Construction today always looks for the best of the best – and that’s Amy! I can’t say how parents should encourage their daughters into the world of construction as it’s an individual choice, but I can say that Amy’s ambition and motivation was driven by the many opportunities she saw with Mercury, including the opportunity for career progression, travel and the option of starting with one career career path and adapting to another.”
“I am a very proud father of one daughter and two sons. When Amy announced that she wanted to pursue a career in the construction industry, we as a family were delighted. She is the only female on both sides of our family to take this step and we are incredibly proud of her. I am confident that Amy and her colleagues can inspire the next generation of women in construction.”
The theme for IWD 2022 is ‘Break the Bias’, what does the construction industry need to do to ensure existing barriers and bias that stop women from following this career path are eliminated?
Amy: “I feel that some women are still afraid to come into this line of work for various reasons. The construction industry needs to continue to promote women and their achievements in order to show others that this is a career option for them.”
Fred: “To ‘Break the Bias’ we need to inspire the next generation of females and show them that there are opportunities within the industry for all people, regardless of gender.”
What’s the most surprising part of being a woman working in construction?
Amy: “From my experience I came into this job with a lot of expectations. I was worried that I wouldn’t be accepted, but I was completely wrong. From the day I started, to today, I have been treated with kindness and respect from everyone. I think that’s what surprised me the most.”
What advice would you give to women who want to work in the construction industry?
Amy: “My advice is that women can do anything they put their mind to. I’d highly recommend considering a career in the construction industry to other females.”
Fred: “Women have a leading role to play in this industry. The opportunities and progression are greatly increased now when compared to the past.”
What has been your favourite part of your career so far and the most challenging part?
Amy: “My favourite career milestone to date has been working towards becoming a health & safety advisor. I have really enjoyed my site visits and learning from other advisors on site. In conjunction to this I have been studying in college to further my career, which Mercury has support and I’m really looking forward to seeing what my future at Mercury’s holds in store.”
“I think one of the most challenging parts of my career was telling my father that I am transferring to a different location and won’t be working with him any longer. It’s funny when we are in work – I address him as Fred – the minute we clock out he makes me call him dad!”
Have you faced any barriers in your career due to being a woman? If so, how did you overcome them?
Amy: “To be honest I haven’t faced any barriers in my career because of my gender, but I am conscious that not everyone has the same experience.”
What’s it like working alongside your father/daughter?
Amy: “It’s been a nightmare! I am joking of course. It has been a very positive experience and has made me see a side to my father that most people will never see. I have gained a lot of respect for him and I’m very sad to be leaving his team, but I know he wants what’s best for me.”
Fred: “From my perspective, believing in your daughter is one thing, but getting to work alongside her and seeing her progression and how she continues to work hard every day is another. Watching her grow into a career that she really enjoys has been an absolute privilege for me.”
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