Women in Construction Week takes place every year during the first full week in March.  It is a time to highlight all the great initiatives and work of women within the construction industry and highlight the opportunities that are available. 

 

Here, we catch up with Billie Hardy, Branch Director at MKM Building Supplies in Morpeth.  Billie’s success story is one that she hopes can inspire others.  As a woman that has risen to the top in a predominately male-dominated sector, the branch director of MKM Morpeth branch has witnessed first-hand how the attitudes and perceptions towards women in construction has changed for the better over the years and how much more diverse the industry continues to become. 

 

The mum of two, whose family roots in the sector go back decades, is proud of the part she is playing in creating more diversity in the building trade.  She hopes her story will encourage more woman to think seriously about starting their career in such an exciting, rewarding and fast paced sector.

 

What attracted you to the building and construction industry?

It’s an industry that been part of my family for many years.  My Dad owns a building company - JMM Building & Civil Engineering - and has done so for what seems like forever, plus there’s other trades in the family too.

 

I’ve spent so many happy Saturday mornings as a young girl going with my Dad into our local merchant trade counter whilst he picked up supplies and pretty much grew up on building sites at the weekends so I could spend time with him.

 

It got less frequent as I got into my teens and wanted to go shopping on the weekends with my friends, but the people side of things always stuck with me and was something I was interested in. 

 

My first professional job was actually in a customer services role in the finance sector, but this wasn’t for me.  I was a bit lost career wise at 20 years old, but a six-month maternity contract came up in an administration role at a builder’s merchant that was closer to my home, and, on my dad’s recommendations, I went for it.  The rest they say, is history!

 

Can you talk us through your experience?

I really enjoyed the maternity contract as my first experience of the building trade.  It gave me a solid grounding into the extensive range of roles available in the merchant sector and the endless possibilities it could provide me as a career path.  Working my way from the bottom up gave me a good understanding of all aspects of a merchant and also the industry as a whole too – which I quickly realised was all about people.  It was definitely something I wanted to pursue.

 

Based on my performance in that early maternity contract, I was offered a full-time job and took it.  Over the next 14 years, I’ve worked extremely hard to develop my career.  I’m very ambitious, but at the heart of what makes me tick is providing exceptional customer service, delivered with a smile on my face and with a bit of banter thrown in for good measure.  

 

I’d like to think that it’s my personable approach coupled with my work ethic that have helped me achieve what I have.  It’s certainly led to a number of career opportunities for me.  This has given me the chance to develop my experience and knowledge, from working on the trade counter, to sales, customer service and operational roles, culminating with the opportunity to become an assistant branch manager, which I held for a number of years.

 

When the opportunity to work for MKM came about, I grasped it with both hands.  I knew the brand well and had a pretty good idea that this was a merchant that did things differently.  Everyone I spoke to seemed so happy at MKM and the company’s customer first ethos sat perfectly with my own objectives and aspirations of how a business should be run.

 

 

Tell us more about your job role at MKM Morpeth?

It’s an extremely exciting and diverse role being one of the branch directors at MKM Morpeth.  My main duties include the day to day running of the branch.  This includes keeping track of sales and making sure we have the right products, at the right price for our customers, when they need them. 

 

What MKM and I value the most though is looking after all of our staff and customers and making sure they are happy.  If people enjoy coming to work, or coming into your branch and do so with a smile on their face, it not only creates a fantastic environment to work in, but also a positive and welcoming environment for our customers to come into and feel a part of.

 

What’s the best part of your job?

 

As I said, I’ve always been a massive advocate of providing outstanding customer service so seeing staff and customers happy is the best part of my job. 

 

I also love the fact that MKM and our customers are making a real difference in the communities in which we operate.  From building homes, schools and hospitals, to fixing a broken heating system, or developing a landscaping solution that enhances someone’s life, the work our customers do plays a vital part in people’s lives. 

 

MKM and our customers are at the heart of one of the most important industries for the UK economy and I’m proud to be a part of that.  We’re also a major supporter of local charities, sports teams and good causes, ensuring we do everything we can to give back. 

 

Tell us about your experiences as a woman in the building and construction sector?

Since I started in the building and construction industry some 14 years ago, the sector has changed dramatically for the better and continues to do so in a progressive way. 

 

Back then, if a customer saw a woman in the branch, many would question why, if that woman knew what they were talking about, and they’d be plenty of banter that could sometimes step over the line.  There were also instances where a customer you were dealing with would ask to speak to one of the lads instead, so they could double check the information I had given them was right.   I literally heard it all!

 

The world we live in today, certainly within the building industry, is completely different.   That’s not to say that society as a whole still has work to do, but my experience at the trade counter is only good news for how far the industry has come.

 

It’s a much more accepting sector of woman for starters which I believe has happened for a number of reasons.  Firstly, there’s more and more women and diversity coming into the industry that is helping to push the industry as a whole forward.  We also bring a slightly different skill set, thought process and ways to approach various commercial challenges, which is helping the sector progress through more ideas, shared learnings and enhanced processes. 

 

Ultimately, perceptions have definitely changed, I don’t hear what I used to many years ago, customers understand that we do know what we are talking about and there’s so much more respect for women in what is still a male-dominated sector, but us girls are slowly changing that!

 

What’s the biggest challenges that you’ve faced?

One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced over the years links back to perceptions.  In years gone by, if I was promoted, sometimes it was questioned by my peers – ‘why is she getting that?’; ‘she’s a girl she doesn’t deserve that’, ‘why is she getting that promotion over me?’

 

It was all linked to there not being many women in the industry, never mind a woman in a senior position, and some people didn’t look kindly on this.

 

I’ve always worked that bit harder, just to prove that, as a woman, I was suitable for a role and that I could do it!

 

What advice would you give to others thinking about a career in the building and construction industry?

My advice for anyone thinking about considering the building and construction trade as a career would be don’t be scared and don’t be put off by anything.  Lots of women may be put off by thinking it’s a male dominated sector and whilst that is still true, it’s slowly changing and not daunting at all.

 

There are so many opportunities for career paths and career progression, it’s such an exciting industry to be involved in. 

 

Just take a snapshot of the MKM business for example, there’s jobs in the merchant yard, in the warehouse facilities and in transport and logistics, right through to sales, customer service roles and administration at branch level.  You then have the career opportunities available at MKM’s central support offices, from marketing and finance roles, through to product specialists, operations, IT and training.  The career opportunities are vast and diverse, covering a multitude of skill sets.

 

What are the benefits you see of having a diverse team and working in a diverse business?

Having diversity in the workplace is good news for any business, whatever industry you work in.  It makes workplaces better, different cultures and ideas, it makes people feel more comfortable, you don’t have as much judgement because there’s different people from all different places and backgrounds and it can also make customers feel more welcome and at ease.

 

What makes you proud about working for MKM?

Having worked within the nationals for many years, joining MKM was like a breath of fresh air.  There’s no doubt that MKM do things differently.   The brand is extremely strong in the areas in which we operate, and we have developed an enviable reputation in the market for providing outstanding levels of customer service, in a friendly and welcoming environment.

 

This is what makes me proud.  Seeing our staff coming into work each day, with a smile on their faces, because they like coming to work.  It’s a great place to be.  This then translates into the service we provide our customers.  It’s friendly and welcoming environment, almost like a big happy family, which sounds cheesy, but it’s true.

 

I believe the MKM business model, which gives branch directors a stake in the business and the freedom to run their branch as they see fit, drives this.  On a local level, branch directors feel empowered to make the right decisions for our customer’s need at the coalface, but with the backing of MKM central support.  This gives each branch individuality and the competitive edge, where customers aren’t just a number.  We are part of their success and much as they are ours.

 

Find out more at your local branch.