64 | Feature: Women In Timber
WOMEN IN TIMBER 2025
Following the success of our inaugural Women in Timber feature in our 150th anniversary issue in 2023, we profile more women who are carving out successful and rewarding careers in what was once seen as an exclusively male-dominated industry
LAUREN BRISTER LEAD ENGINEER DONALDSON TIMBER ENGINEERING In a stereotypical family business style, I initially joined DTE because my dad worked there. The family ethos really is part of the culture at Donaldson’s, and that’s one of the main reasons why I’m here 16 years later. I started in 2009 as an admin assistant, while studying for an HNC in CAD at college. I wasn’t a great administrator, but I enjoyed my time there, so in 2014 I applied for a trainee design position and was successful. I soon became a design technician, and in 2018, began studying for a degree in civil engineering at Edinburgh Napier University in my spare time.
In 2023 – when I’d completed my degree – I joined the newly formed DTECH (Donaldson Timber Engineering Care Homes) division as a design engineer, focusing on care home projects across the whole of the UK. I love working on care homes. They’re all so different and involve higher levels of engineering, standards and complexities, which means working even more closely with the clients and often for longer periods. There’s a lot of variety and positive challenges, so I get a great deal of satisfaction from my role.
Earlier this year I was promoted to lead engineer and manage the team of DTECH consultants across the UK. Our specialist consultants are experts in their field and the feedback from clients is overwhelmingly positive.
The timber industry is an exciting place to be, with so many opportunities to develop and contribute to a more sustainable method of construction. While I haven’t faced many challenges being a woman, there is still a big gap in the male to female ratio. One way of encouraging women into construction is to introduce it in schools – even as early as primary – to show the younger generation you can be anything you want to be! I was fortunate to have a supportive family network that instilled this into me when I was younger. ■
TTJ | July/August 2025 |
www.ttjonline.com
ALEX NICHOLS FINANCIAL DIRECTOR STOCKWELL FOREST PRODUCTS I was born into the timber industry. GC Stockwell (Hardwoods) Ltd was a hardwood supplier founded in 1935 by my grandfather, who was one of the founding members of the London Hardwood Club in 1937. When the company opened a site in
Stokenchurch, my dad would either be up there or in France. When he took over the helm, he knew he had to diversify. The Stokenchurch yard helped the company expand its reach within the UK and contributed to its reputation as a leading supplier of beech during its active years. The company expanded its operations to include hardwood storage, kilning, and distribution. We became a trade kilner in the 70s with the first commercial trade kilns being built. As a child I would often go up to the yard
in Stokenchurch and spend the week for a wage of £10 sticking the timber before it went into the trade kilns.
I joined the company in 1991 and my first role was to bring it into the 20th century by introducing computers.
My brother Charlie joined in 1994 and took over from my Dad in 1997. Charlie expanded the company’s repertoire to include planed and sawn Scandinavian softwoods and, when the trade kilning element became untenable, we had the hard decision to close and sell the land the Stokenchurch yard and kiln operation were based on, in early 2001. While we were closing one door, Charlie was opening another and founded Stockwell Forest Products Ltd, by acquiring the softwood division from DN Green & Co (Timber) Ltd, which specialised in the wholesale import and supply of Baltic and Scandinavian softwood. So for a few years I worked for both.
I am still the financial director for Stockwell Forest Products Ltd and have seen the number of women increase 10-fold since the early days, and it is wonderful that there are more and more joining such a male oriented industry. ■
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