A Melbournian, Becky attended Sheffield Girls from 4 through to 18. Becky managed several part time jobs throughout her A Levels, and took a year out after her undergraduate degree and worked in hospitality whilst she figured out her next steps. Throughout school she was actively involved in a variety of sports, notably hockey and netball, continuing hockey now in London.

How would you describe your career journey after school?

Most of the modules I picked during my undergraduate degree involved different aspects of sustainability, varying from ethics to carbon to compliance. This led me to take a masters in sustainability to explore more opportunities, leading me to construction. With my father working as a quantity surveyor I had been exposed to the industry from a young age, but I can’t say I expected to enter the industry too! My job now combines parts of my university knowledge and applies it to construction practices. I collect data from subcontractors to establish the embodied carbon for a project, work with the local community to ensure they aren’t negatively impacted by our work, and I lead the documental compliance for each of my projects from an environmental and ecological perspective.

Have you faced any challenges in your career so far?

There have been several challenges in my career, with one of the most notable being the scale of the construction industry. As I entered the industry with no experience I had to pick up all the terminology and knowledge of the industry from scratch, and there is a vast amount to learn. Whether it is all the legislation, the understanding of the construction programme and the different elements of the build, to understanding the different licenses required for a job, I learn something new everyday. Another challenge for me is working in a male dominated industry, it can sometimes be a challenge to establish yourself, especially being new into the industry and being surrounded by people who have worked in construction for years. However this is changing and is becoming less of a challenge compared to when I first entered the job 18 months ago, and the more women that enter the industry the easier this becomes.

What’s been the most rewarding parts of your journey so far?

I think the most rewarding part of my job is working with the local communities of the projects I lead. We can often be in an area for 1-2 years to complete these projects, and in that time I build relationships with local charities and schools, to create initiatives that inspire the next generation or assist the local community through food banks, or offering refurbishment works for local charities. Seeing the positive impact of what I do is refreshing to see.

How did your time at SHS influence your career?