IN honour of International Women’s Day (8th March), Barratt Homes is celebrating one of its trainee assistant site managers, Amelia Coker, who is forging a career in construction at Languard View in Dovercourt.
Amelia (23) joined the leading housebuilder as an ASPIRE Construction Graduate in September 2023, following in the footsteps of her grandfather and father, who both worked in the new-build housing sector.
Her journey into the industry began with a week-long work experience programme at high school, which ultimately inspired her to pursue a degree in Property Development and Planning at Nottingham Trent University.
Reflecting on her career path, Amelia said: “Both my grandfather and father worked in the housebuilding industry, so I was exposed to the sector from a young age. This led me to explore it further through work experience, and I quickly realised it was the industry I wanted to join.
“My studying then opened the door for me to join Barratt Homes through the ASPIRE Programme.”
Amelia has now progressed in her career to Trainee Assistant Site Manager, gaining hands-on experience in managing build programmes, coordinating subcontractors, and ensuring the site team adheres to health and safety regulations.
She continued: “If you had asked me five years ago where I’d be now, I never would have guessed a Trainee Assistant Site Manager, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. This is everything that I wanted from a job, my passion is in construction and the daily challenges that it brings.
“My biggest achievement so far has been successfully completing my first financial year-end in June last year, a particularly busy period on-site. I was especially proud to ensure that all scheduled home completions were delivered on time.”
This year’s International Women’s Day theme, #AccelerateAction, highlights the urgency of breaking down barriers and biases that prevent women from advancing in their careers.
Amelia said: “I believe the best way for the industry to accelerate action is through education and opportunities. It is important to educate women, and young people in general regardless of gender or background, on the benefits of the construction industry to give them a real insight and understanding of what it is really like.
“It’s also crucial to create more entry-level roles and clear pathways for women to progress into leadership positions.”
While Amelia acknowledges that construction is still seen as a male-dominated industry, she believes progress is being made.
She said: “The number of women in the industry has definitely increased. In the past, women typically entered roles in departments like sales or surveying, but now we’re seeing more women stepping into traditionally male-dominated positions, such as site management.
“There is still a strong male presence in trade work, but initiatives like the ASPIRE Graduate Programme are helping to change that by encouraging more women to join the industry.
“It’s easy for young women to assume construction is only for men, but the reality is that women play an equally vital role in the industry.”
Amelia has praised Barratt Homes for its commitment to increasing female representation in construction and for the support she has received throughout her career journey.
She said: “As a woman in the industry, I believe Barratt Homes offers incredible opportunities for women. The support I’ve received from employees across all departments at Barratt Homes Eastern Counties has been unmatched.
“I was even given the opportunity to share my experience of the ASPIRE Graduate Programme with the Board of Directors and Barratt Redrow’s CEO, David Thomas.”
Encouraging more women to pursue careers in construction, Amelia added: “My advice to other women entering the industry is to take advantage of schemes like the ASPIRE Graduate Programme, which allows you to rotate through departments and discover where your passion lies.
“Anyone can succeed in this industry with the right mindset. If you’re willing to learn, put in the work, and take care of yourself both physically and mentally, the opportunities are endless.”
To find out more about careers at Barratt and David Wilson Homes, visit the website at Barratt Redrow Careers or ASPIRE Programme to find out more about graduate opportunities.
To find out more about Languard View, visit the website or call the Barratt Homes sales team on 033 3355 8488. Alternatively, for homes available across the county visit the website at Barratt Homes in Essex.
