07 Mar 2024

Claire Burkill - Celebrating Women in Construction

Marking the 26th annual Women in Construction Week, we caught up with some of the amazing women in our business, to share the exceptional work they do and get their thoughts on inclusivity in our industry, and what it means to them to be a woman in construction. 

Claire Burkill, Planning Manager

As Planning Manager, Claire leads the construction planning for two of our most challenging projects to deliver 112 Passivhaus homes in York. As NEC contracts, these two projects are managed by Caddick Construction from beginning to end, a form of delivery that requires attention to detail, meticulous organisation and an open and honest approach to overcoming challenges.

Claire’s journey to the construction industry began in 2004 following a series of roles in retail and manufacturing, both of which flexed her organisation and project management skills. In her first role in construction, Claire undertook a part-time degree in Construction Management with Sheffield Hallam University after which she became a qualified Member of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).

Claire explains: “As a planner, I work with the wider team to develop our project programme. I then track and report progress, and work with the whole team on site, including the client, to identify and mitigate problems. This is a job that requires realistic thinking, and straight talking. We do our job well by being open and honest with one another, and we’re able to do that because we have an environment that is inclusive and respectful.

“As a woman in construction, what matters to me is being treated the same as everybody else. We work hard as a team, we respect one another equally and we support each other. In that sense, there are absolutely no boundaries for women in this industry; we have no stereotypes at Caddick, just hardworking and dedicated people.

“I’ve had the privilege of working with some very impressive women, who’ve commanded a lot of respect in the boardroom and that has stayed with me. As a working mum, it really matters to me that I’m showing my children what hard work looks like. We need to show young people that construction isn’t all brickwork and carpentry. There are so many different career opportunities outside of these more traditional roles. If you are good at communicating, you’re a team player and you’re willing to get stuck in, there is a place for you in this industry.”