Meet Kate, our Assistant Site Manager at Gwallon Keas, St. Austell
18 December 2019Did you know that women make up around 14% of construction industry professionals? The good news is that this figure is rising as more and more women enter the industry. At Devonshire Homes, we are proud to support a number of women who are making waves in their careers. Recently, we welcomed Kate Wells to the team as our new Assistant Site Manager at Gwallon Keas, St. Austell. We caught up with Kate to see how she is getting on in her new role:
Hi Kate! Tell us about your background in the housing and construction industry…
Well I’ve been linked to the industry through my mum ever since I was five, but I started working in the industry myself two years ago. Initially, I wanted to go into medicine but then I started assisting my mum who was working with a flooring contractor. I helped with the admin, financial aspects, organised labour and dealt with Site Managers daily. I was itching to be out on the site to see what was happening and how it all worked, I therefore looked into securing a site-based job. It was definitely the best choice I’ve ever made!
What is a typical day like as an Assistant Site Manager at Gwallon Keas?
Our working day starts at 7am when the build team and I sit down for 30 minutes to discuss the day ahead. The Senior Site Manager and I will walk the site to check that all health and safety requirements are being met on a daily basis. I will then check that permits are in place for works to proceed that day. I also look at programming future works, future production meetings and associated prep work. Finally, I check the quality of build on a daily basis which includes any CML handovers or any customer care queries.
What do you enjoy about being the Assistant Site Manager at Gwallon Keas?
I love that every day is different. I like to be busy and as an Assistant Site Manager, there is always lots to do and that’s what I really look for in a job. I need that variety. I also enjoy the challenges of communicating with different people. There’s always something new to learn in this job, regardless of how long you have been in the industry. Methods and materials are constantly changing so you have to ensure that you are adapting and enhancing your skills.
What stands out for you about Devonshire Homes as an employer?
What stands out for me is their investment in quality. This is really shown within the build specification, especially given that Devonshire Homes’ standard specification is higher than that of other house builders. It’s not just about the homes we build though. I really like how the company invests in its employees, giving training and support, more than you would get anywhere else.
What benefits do you think you bring to your role and to Devonshire Homes?
I think that my ability to prioritise, be self-motivated and my organisational skills benefit the Site Manager in his role. I try to consider all aspects when making a decision e.g. what decisions would benefit the site but also the implications to the wider business.
Do you have any aims or goals that you would like to achieve as Assistant Site Manager?
My goal is to develop my skills and knowledge by going on my first aid course and completing my NVQ in order to progress to a Site Manager. Longer term, my aim is to learn more about the contractual side and progress into contracts management.