Women in Construction Event at Bridgend College’s STEAM Academy
Sacyr UK technical assistant Chantelle Lennard recently participated in the Women in Construction event hosted by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) with Jo O’Keefe, Community Benefits Co-ordinator (CBCo) at Bridgend College’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Academy.
The event brought together 65 year nine female students, aged 14 to 15, from four local schools. The day was dedicated to inspiring and empowering the next generation of women in construction by showcasing the exciting range of careers available within the industry.
Sacyr was delighted that their Women in Construction video featured as part of the introduction, proudly showcasing the incredible contributions of the talented women working on the new Velindre Cancer Centre project. The video highlighted not only the impressive statistics around female representation on site, but also the diverse range of roles they occupy, demonstrating the critical impact women are making in shaping this landmark healthcare facility.
A key highlight of the event was the opportunity to hear from two inspiring women working in the field, Lana Abbott from RMG Groundworks and Alex Bear from Willmott Dixon. They shared powerful personal stories about their experiences in the construction sector, the meaningful impact of their work and encouraged students to consider careers they may not have previously imagined for themselves.
The students took part in a series of interactive, STEM-based activities designed to build confidence, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. These included constructing foam brick towers, designing and assembling a large tetrahedron using rods and elastic bands, and tackling the popular marshmallow tower challenge. Each task simulating different aspects of construction and engineering.
One of the standout experiences was the virtual reality (VR) headset activity, which allowed students to virtually step onto construction sites giving them a realistic and immersive perspective of the daily operations. The day concluded with a roundtable discussion, where students were able to engage directly with the professionals and address any specific questions they had.
Sacyr UK CBCo Jo O’Keefe, who attended the session said: “It was wonderful to meet so many pupils from schools around the region and discuss with them the career options for construction for them. As a male dominated industry, sometimes girls and young women don’t see it as an option for them, so it was great to be able to bring the industry to life using both technology and the real-life experiences of Lana and Alex".
Jo added: “Sacyr UK is proud to have supported this initiative, helping to spark curiosity and confidence in young women to explore the possibilities that a career in construction can offer.”
