Meet The... TF Community, Neave @mrs.builder_

Next up on meet the TF Community we are focussing on Women Construction. We spoke to Neave @mrs.builder_

Did you always want to work in construction?

I've always enjoyed working on projects with my husband (a builder too) for fun and as a hobby but never thought of it as something I might enjoy doing as my day job. 

How did you start in the trade? 

Something clicked after I had a head injury and the Covid lockdowns, I decided I wanted a skilled job but couldn't face years of more study so I started looking at the jobs that offered apprenticeships.

Originally I was going to do an electrical apprenticeship but settled for doing a carpentry pre-trade course before starting my building apprenticeship. 

What do you enjoy the most?

I love that you have a visual of what you've achieved in a day. In many other jobs, it's often hard to see what you've achieved in a day but in building you see progress most days and I get a buzz for seeing what we've achieved that day.

What's the one tool you can't live without?

Tie between my Martinez M4 12oz hammer or speed square 

How do you find it being a woman in construction - does it make any difference to you on site? 

To start it can be intimidating when you are the only female onsite but getting stuck into the job, good bit of banter and supportive co-workers help to make you feel at ease and part of the team.

What do you enjoy doing in your downtime?

I love playing team sports, Pilates and walking my dogs.

What would be your advise to girls considering carpentry as a profession?

I would highly recommend doing a pre-trade course prior to starting an carpentry apprenticeship as this allows you to learn how to use tools properly and basic skills & techniques. Learning from scratch "on the job" can be difficult as it is, so going in with some skills helps a lot!