Ex-Ipswich Hospital lab technician joins push to get more women into construction

Why it matters: Gunn says the construction industry needs promoting because “there’s simply not enough of us” - and she is now taking that message to students across the region.

The details: Gunn left her career in the blood science lab at Ipswich Hospital to go back to college and retrain as a painter and decorator before the pandemic.

• She enrolled on a Level 1 course at Suffolk New College, where she then completed her Level 2, before switching to West Suffolk College for her final year.
• Three years on from finishing her Level 3 qualification, she is a volunteer representative for community interest company Women in Construction Anglia.

What they're saying: "I enjoyed the work but the 12-hour night shifts were taking a lot of adjustment and I knew I wanted to make a change," said Gunn.

"I've always liked painting and decorating – I've decorated every house I've ever owned.

"I thought about exploring it as a career and said to myself 'if you don't take the leap now, then you'll never know'."

She added: "A week after finishing the course I got my own van and started working.

"I haven't looked back since. If I could have made the switch earlier then I would have."

The bigger picture: Gunn came across Clare Friel and the team at Women in Construction Anglia last year, describing its mission to improve inclusivity and bridge the gap between education and industry as "brilliant".

"We have to promote the industry as there's simply not enough of us," she said.

"Back when I started my training there weren't many women in construction. There wasn't really anyone for me to look up to – and that's the person I want to be for the next generation of young women joining the industry.

"The more I can do to help, the better."

She added: "I recently went back to West Suffolk College to speak to students and was so pleased to hear the class was a near 50/50 gender split. It's great to see, but there's so much more to be done."

The bottom line: Gunn wants to be the role model she never had for young women in construction, and her advice to anyone considering a career change is to "definitely go for it".

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