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Women in Leadership Profiles
Name: Philippa Golding
Role: Quantity Surveyor, Gallagher Ltd
A bit about Philippa: I am 23 years old, I started at Invicta in 2009 and left at the end of Year 11 to study at another grammar sixth form in Maidstone. From there I went to university to study journalism but it was too soon and I hadn't put enough thought into the decision so I left after a year as I knew it wasn't going to be my career and I was unhappy. I think it’s incredibly important that schools promote options other than university as a pathway because it isn’t for everyone and quite often a year out to work hard and truly figure out the route you wish to take can be so beneficial.
From there I took an admin role at my construction company in the accounts department, before moving to the commercial department to do admin and then began the role I am in now studying whilst working as a Quantity Surveyor. I play football, I horse ride and I never knew a Quantity Surveyor existed as a job when I was at school!
What is it like working in your company? The company I work for is great. It is a family run business who are really pushing for more women to get involved in the construction industry. They are really supportive as long as you are willing to learn, put in the effort and show a desire to want to be there, but that’s the same wherever you go! As girls in a male dominated sector, we have to show them why they need us and what they have been missing out on for all this time.
Why did you decide to go into your chosen field? I fell into the industry doing admin roles, whilst I was trying to figure out what path to take next after I left university. After working alongside surveyors, estimators and the buying team I was really interested in what actually goes on in the field, beyond the office. I expressed an interest to my manager, who agreed to take me on a ‘trial day’ to see if it was for me…and the rest is history!
What qualifications and work experience did you need to reach your current position? A good understanding of maths is the main qualification you need. I am studying a distance learning degree with the University College of Estate Management alongside my job so I needed the required UCAS points (3 good A-Levels as well as English and Maths at GCSE). You also need to be confident as there is a lot of communication to be had with clients and you must be a strong character too.
What do you enjoy the most about your job? There is a lot of variety in the role and it isn't your typical 9-5 job. I think I would become bored being sat in an office all the time but there is a lot of travelling to and from sites, meetings and the office. The hours are long (7:30-6) but the days really do go by quickly. There is so much to learn and you’re always challenged with new situations, it definitely keeps you on your toes.
What obstacles have you overcome in your career? The biggest obstacle within a Quantity Surveying apprenticeship is how competitive it is, but don't let that put you off as I know a lot of people who have gone into the profession and they have all found jobs.
I often get stopped by men on the construction sites asking me what role I’m doing, they're always quite surprised when I tell them, but they're all supportive too.
Why do you think it is important to have a strong female representation in your industry? Women bring a lot of different qualities, such as attention to detail - which is especially important in my role as we are dealing with money and trying to maximise profit! I believe that diversity can only strengthen the industry and a woman’s point of view can only help that.
What advice would you give those wanting to take a similar career path? Jump straight into it and get your foot in the door as soon as you can. LinkedIn is a great place to start, the construction industry is very active on there and you'll often find jobs and apprenticeships advertised. The same as any other career - do your research! Find out everything you might want to know about the job role to make sure it’s the one for you and attack it without looking back. Be friendly, be smart and always ask questions and you'll go so far in the construction industry! Good luck :)
