Having recently been announced as a finalist for the Women in Construction Award, 2021 we spoke to Carol Massay, head of construction at the Access Group to discuss her 30-year career, the topic of women in construction and what can only be described as a whirlwind 12 months at EasyBuild
Q1) Throughout your 30-year career, how has your role changed?
Having worked within the construction industry for over 30 years and in construction technology for the last 18, there have certainly been some huge industry changes throughout my career. In the early days, I worked for a top 10 housebuilding company, then joining an established Irish based civil engineering and building contractors firm where I spent over 14 years.
Tasked with implementing key changes, designed to improve the reporting of financial and project information, as well as improving business processes, this role paved the way perfectly for a move into construction technology.
I’ve worked in a number of roles, including senior implementation consultant, head of professional services and strategic relationship manager, cultivating relationships with a number of the UK top 100 construction companies.
Q2) How has the industry changed during this time?
I’d say despite take-up being slow, more and more businesses across the whole sector are now realising the importance of technology both from an efficiency perspective and also a worthwhile investment to help drive revenue.
Determined to deliver a vital message to the construction industry, I’ve always emphasised that now is the time to embrace technology and I’m pleased to see this finally coming to fruition.
Q3) Do you think more could be done to encourage women to join the industry?
Having experienced my own personal challenges throughout my career, it’s certainly rewarding to be recognised and named as a finalist for Women in Construction at the National Building and Construction Awards and I know I stand alongside a number of other great female ambassadors for our industry.
In total, there are between 2 and 3 million people in the UK employed in the construction industry – a number that continues to grow, however, according to research from 2020, only 13% of the construction industry is made up of women.
Construction can be a difficult industry to work in, and I do believe you have to be thick-skinned to stand up and be counted. Organisations, schools and construction companies are working hard to change the perception of the industry and trying to encourage more women into the industry – which is certainly a positive in my opinion.
Q4) EasyBuild joined The Access Group last December, how do you think this will strengthen your product offering?
I joined EasyBuild back in 2015 as chief executive officer, with the aim of growing the business and for EasyBuild to become one of the UK’s preferred construction software providers.
Joining The Access Group was certainly a huge personal achievement and I believe the partnership will accelerate EasyBuild’s product development and give our customers the opportunity to explore a wider range of integrated business solutions.
Working with main contractors, civil engineers, interior fit-out, roofing, joinery and rail specialists – to name a few, EasyBuild provides the critical tools needed to manage projects in a timely and efficient manner. I’m keen to continue developing the software and enhance how we can support the many industries we work alongside. I know the team at Access share this same strategic vision and believe our combined skill sets will lead to a number of exciting and industry-leading product developments.
Find out more about EasyBuild here.
