BARRATT MARKED INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY BY CELEBRATING THE WORK OF ITS RISING STARS


BARRATT HOMES marked International Women’s Day (8 March) - by celebrating the work and careers of some of its rising stars. Te five star housebuilder is proud of its diverse workforce, and actively encourages women to build successful careers within construction. “In the past, our industry has been largely dominated by men but that is fast changing as we look to recruit the very best talent - and gender just doesn’t come into that decision process,” said sales director, Richard Lawson. “Tose wishing to join our team can choose from a wide range of roles - from construction to sales and marketing - and each offers its own mix of exciting challenges and rewards.” Senior sales manager Paula Weston-Dimond has worked with Barratt in South Wales during a career spanning 22 years. “As a woman within an industry that has traditionally been male-oriented, it has taken a lot of hard work to get recognition for my skills. Times have definitely changed now though. I believe you should recruit the right person for the job - regardless of their gender. “Now it’s a case of promoting the industry - and all the benefits it provides - as widely as possible. Barratt already works closely with schools and colleges to highlight the many opportunities available. And that’s an excellent start. My advice to anyone considering a career in construction is to be prepared to work hard and aim to be the best you can at everything you do.” Rebecca Roberts is a site manager and has worked at Barratt Homes for the last five years. She credits hard work and determination for her success and says she really enjoys transforming a plot of land into a home for buyers. “I may still be in the minority but I hope that I have broken down some of the misconceptions or perhaps outdated opinions about what it takes to do the job,” she said. “Every site manage has his or her strengths and weaknesses.” Claudia Schiavo is a marking executive and has been


Pictured leſt to right - Paula Weston-Dimond, Claudia Schiavo, Zoe Aubrey, Hollie Lewis, Rebecca Roberts and Suzie Hewitt construction


working with Barratt in South Wales for more than five years. “I’m mainly responsible for digital marketing and communications here - including generating leads through our website,” she said. “I had the incredible opportunity to join the company at just 18, and it was a wonderful way to gain experience and study for my marketing degree.” For Hollie Lewis, the role of sales adviser is her first within the construction industry: “My job is to sell homes - but it’s also about being ‘the face of Barratt’ and taking our customers on this very exciting journey of purchasing a new property.” Suzie Hewitt is sales manager and has worked for Barratt in South Wales for almost five years. With responsibility for delivering sales targets across five construction sites, she enjoys a fast paced, and highly- varied role. “My job demands a strong working relationship with all key departments within the business - from


and technical to commercial


and


marketing,” she said. “I have always had a strong work ethic, and am open to experiencing roles within different sectors to broaden my skills.” As planning manager, Zoe Aubrey oversees planning applications and site promotions - working with other members of the technical and land teams. “Having worked within the consultancy sector for 15 years, I was ready for a new challenge,” she said. “I like the varied nature and the ever-evolving complexity of the town planning system. And it’s great to be involved in the development process from the start to finish - helping Barratt in South Wales to deliver new places where people aspire to live. “It’s great to see more women coming into construction - but it’s more about being employed to do a job you’re good at. And that means making people aware of the whole industry and the opportunities it presents.” For more information about careers with Barratt, visit www.barratthomes.co.uk or call 0844 5710 385.


Newport pupils tour award-winning homes development


CHILDREN from St Andrew’s Primary School in Newport swapped their classrooms for the construction site at the invitation of local partnership homes developer Lovell. Te Lovell team gave 105 pupils a guided tour of the award-winning Loſtus Garden Village development, under construction close by the Milner Street school. Te 250-home scheme - named best New Development in the latest Welsh Housing Awards - is being delivered by a partnership of homes provider Pobl Group, Lovell and Newport City Council. Pupils enjoyed a behind-the- scenes look at the development which is due to be completed in August 2018. Elizabeth Charles, assistant head teacher at St Andrew’s Primary, says: “We are very grateful to the Lovell team at Loſtus Garden Village for facilitating the visit which linked well with the Year 2 topic ‘Cracking Construction’.” Lovell community coordinator


well as enlightening them as to potential job options for the future and the various


skills


Pupils from St Andrew’s Primary School in Newport were given a tour of the award-winning Loſtus Garden Village development. Pictured, leſt to right, are: Lovell site manager Luke Morgan with pupils Amelia Jenkins, Lana-Rose Heard, Cayden Perrett, Ethan Burgoyne-Hyden, Charlie Stedman, Tiara Powell and Lovell community coordinator Bernadette Vickery.


Bernadette Vickery adds: “Involving and engaging the local community has been central to the Loſtus Garden Village


project, particularly


with the site having played such a significant role in the history of Newport. Tis is the latest in a number of projects we’ve undertaken with St Andrew’s Primary. It was fantastic to have the opportunity to show the pupils round and talk to


18 - Friday 16th March 2018 - Cardiff & South Wales Advertiser


them about the new homes, how they are being built and why it’s an important scheme. Te visit also allowed us to talk to the children about staying safe near construction activity and underline the message that children and young people should never go unsupervised on to a construction development.” Neil


Taylor, senior project manager for Pobl Group,


comments: “St Andrew’s Primary have very much played an important part in our Loſtus Garden Village journey so It was fantastic to welcome the pupils back, to see first-hand how the garden village being built on their doorstep has taken shape. “Opportunities like this inspire the children to think about the significance of housebuilding and how it can positively impact on their local community as


and training required in the construction industry.” Loſtus Garden Village has transformed a derelict industrial site in the heart of Newport bringing new homes, tree- lined roads, a central pond and village-style green space. Te new housing ranges from one- bedroom apartments to four- bedroom family houses, with homes for open market sale and shared ownership as well as properties for social, market and intermediate rent and a number available on a cooperative basis. Te development commemorates Newport’s Ruby Loſtus who gained fame in the 1940s when she was painted by war artist Dame Laura Knight carrying out her job at the Royal Ordnance factory which once stood on the housing site. Her story has been celebrated through a series of community projects linked to the housing scheme.


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