Name: Angharad Rosser
Job title: Community Engagement Officer
Employer: Dawnus Construction
Based: Swansea
Angharad's journey into construction was far from smooth; in 2007 she was made redundant, and was unsure of her next career move. “A friend offered me a few weeks of onsite work assisting an engineer. I had no previous experience or construction knowledge, but I decided to give it a go. A few weeks turned into a few months, and then I was offered a position on a trainee programme.
“I completed an HNC in Building Studies, which gave me a good understanding of different aspects of construction, and I was able to relate the knowledge to what I had learnt onsite.”
From here, Angharad became an assistant engineer, before deciding to move into construction management. Her new role involved inspecting the work of subcontractors, ironing out any defects and then handing over the building to the client.
“My next move after that was into a role as a Community Engagement Officer,” says Angharad. “I had responsibility for organising site visits and work experience opportunities for local schools, colleges and universities. I loved this role; when the opportunity came up to do it on a full-time basis with Dawnus Construction, an international civil engineering and building company, I jumped at the chance.”
So what are the primary functions in her role at Dawnus? “As before, I'm responsible for setting up site visits and work experience opportunities, but there's a lot more besides,” Angharad says. “I work closely with employment support groups and educational establishments to support those looking to get back into work. I'm an ambassador to encourage more women into the industry, which is brilliant. I also work with charities and community groups to try and leave a positive impact in the areas surrounding our ongoing projects.”
So what advice would Angharad give to someone thinking about a career in construction? “I feel that construction is a great industry to work in, as you are not stuck in one role. There is potential to learn many different skills, which can help you to keep progressing throughout your career. Finally, the old stereotype of construction being a ‘man’s job’ is starting to disappear, and more and more women are choosing a long-term, successful career in construction.”
