Suffolk university students ‘inspired’ by women at construction event

A group of students were “inspired” by a women in construction event.

Anglia Construction is a networking hub for those involved in the industry in Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex.

Hosted a recent event to celebrate the vital role of women in the industry at Edmunds Restaurant in West Suffolk CollegeBury St Edmunds.

Seventeen female students from the college attended and professor Averil Young said the students were able to see the “vast opportunities available to women”.

“My students came away very inspired, and when asked about role models, they now feel like they have a room full of them,” she said.

She added that students’ eyes were opened to possible careers in construction.

Just under 100 guests, including industry professionals, attended the event organized by Clare Friel, founder of Construction Anglia and managing director of marketing agency Friel.

Ms Friel was named Industry Ally in the CITB Top 100 Women in Construction awards for the second year running.

“I have been fortunate to have met some incredible women during my time in the industry and to have built an incredible network both locally and nationally,” she said.

“I wanted to share this network and create a community of like-minded women who could come together and pave the way for the next generation of women in construction.”

The event featured several guest speakers and panel discussions.

Siu Min Li, CITB’s Most Influential Woman in Construction in 2023 and director of the Temporary Works Forum, said the event showed that “construction is an industry for everyone.”

“The event aimed to create a community, support people in the industry and the idea was to remove the stigma from construction,” she said.

“There are a lot of opportunities, whether it’s digital, graphic design, accounting, law – it’s not just helmets and steel-toed boots.”