This year’s International Women’s Day encourages women to ‘Break the Bias’, and within a traditionally male-dominated industry, the site team at Taylor Wimpey North Midlands’ Lily Hay development are doing just that.
Since launching in 2019, Assistant Site Manager Emma Walton and Sales Executive Christine Evans have looked after both homebuyers and contractors at Taylor Wimpey’s Lily Hay development in Shrewsbury, and they will continue to work on the development’s second phase which launched in February.
Emma joined the company three and a half years ago, and after her hard work and dedication throughout the pandemic was promoted to Assistant Site Manager at the Lily Hay development.
Commenting on her decision to pursue an apprenticeship with Taylor Wimpey, Emma said: “I was only 18 when I started my apprenticeship and I really wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I thought that it wasn’t a typical apprenticeship for women or people my age to choose, but that, along with the leadership prospects, are what attracted me to the role.
“I love that in my job, no two days are the same and you are constantly being challenged. I get to work alongside some fantastic people and build relationships with contractors, different teams within the business and Taylor Wimpey’s customers.”
On working in a typically male-dominated industry, Emma said: “Despite construction statistically being more male-orientated, I have never been made to feel isolated as a woman in this industry. I’m treated exactly the same as other managers and that is so important.”
A former Sales Executive of the Year and overseeing the Lily Hay customer sales is Christine Evans. Christine has enjoyed a long and successful career with the company, working on a number of celebrated developments across the North Midlands.
Christine said: “The best part of my role is meeting people I never would have met outside of work, helping them find their dream home and assisting them in putting their own stamp on it.”
Carl Cooke, Sales and Marketing Director at Taylor Wimpey North Midlands said: “We are extremely proud of our team at Lily Hay.
“Emma and Christine are invaluable members of the team, and are both in their own right paving the way for women in the house building industry, so International Women’s Day seems like the perfect opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate this.
“As an Apprentice who was promoted through sheer hard work and dedication, Emma has shown that there is more than one route to success and Christine’s stellar sales record and dedication to her work exemplifies our high standards from across the business.”