Nicole McKinley, assistant quantity surveyor at u003ca href=u0022https://seddon.co.uk/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eSeddonu003c/au003e, discusses her career journey and the importance of diversity across the sector
I've always been interested in construction, partly because I had family members in the industry.
I liked the idea of overseeing projects from start to finish and working with a diverse team of people.
I started by getting my feet wet with a BTEC in building services, which gave me a good foundation and understanding of construction practices.
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While exploring my options, I attended different university open days and was offered a placement in commercial consultancy at a railway infrastructure firm. Shortly after, I landed my role at Seddon, where I now work as an assistant quantity surveyor.
I love the diversity that comes with being a quantity surveyor – from site visits to meeting different people, every day feels different.
My role involves ensuring subcontracts align with the work being done, handling variations and keeping a close eye on costs. I’m also the link between our site team and subcontractors, making sure everyone’s on the same page
Nicole McKinley, Seddon
What is a typical day in your job?
Depending on the month, each day can look different. Typically, I focus on managing subcontractor packages and as I work within the Housing Partnerships side of the business, I’m involved with housing development projects and frameworks. Right now, I'm on a £32 million project building 155 houses.
My role involves ensuring subcontracts align with the work being done, handling variations and keeping a close eye on costs. I'm also the link between our site team and subcontractors, making sure everyone's on the same page.
There's a lot of number-crunching too - from client valuations to subcontractor payment notices. It's a mix of desk work and site visits, which keeps things interesting.
What are the main challenges and rewards of your role?
One of the most significant challenges – which is also rewarding, in a way – is being a woman in construction.
Working in a historically male-dominated industry can have its obstacles, but the industry is changing. The reward is seeing more and more women in construction.
The diverse working environment attracted me to construction, so the prospect of change is exciting. As a company, Seddon has people from all walks of life and backgrounds. I feel lucky to be a part of an organisation that values and cares about our individuality and strives for inclusivity.
You recently returned from a Foundation for the Future trip. What skills and experience did you gain from the programme?
Foundation for the Future is all about striving to make a difference and making a lasting impact on community wellbeing.
I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to spend two weeks at a women's shelter in the centre of Budapest to help upgrade and restore the facilities.
Whilst I was there, we were tasked with repairs and renovations such as painting, organising and upgrading furniture for the women staying at the shelter.
I was working alongside people I barely knew, from various backgrounds, and we had to come together quickly to get the job done. It really gave me a broader perspective on different working styles and cultures.
We need to show young women that they too can be electricians, painters or bricklayers – we all have a responsibility to shout about inclusivity to make it known that there’s space for both men and women across construction
Nicole McKinley, Seddon
The programme was so rewarding, especially seeing the lasting impact of our work on the women who need these facilities.
Being a part of a project fundamental to community wellbeing was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The skills I’ve taken away from this trip will stay with me for a long time.
What is your view on how the industry can address the skills gap and attract the next generation of built environment professionals?
We need to reframe the narrative around construction careers. There’s still a huge focus on men going into careers in construction – we need to show young women that they too can be part of this industry.
When I was exploring career options during college, I noticed there was a tendency to steer women towards certain fields like hair and beauty, without even mentioning construction as a possibility.
While those are great career paths for those passionate about them, it's important that we present all options equally to everyone, regardless of gender.
