Suffolk college students 'inspired' by women in construction event

A group of female students were "inspired" by a women in construction event.

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

It organised a recent event to celebrate the vital role of women in the industry at the Edmunds Restaurant in West Suffolk College, Bury St Edmunds.

Seventeen female students from the college attended and lecturer Averil Young said the students could see the "vast opportunities available for women".

"My students left feeling so inspired, and when asked about role models, they now feel like they have a room full of them," she said.

She added the students' eyes had been opened to the potential career paths in construction.

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

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

"I am lucky to have met some incredible women during my time in the industry and have built an amazing network both locally and nationally," she said.

"I wanted to share this network and create a community of like minded women who can join together and pave the way for the next generation of females in construction."

The event saw several guest speakers and discussion panels.

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

"The event was all about creating a community, supporting people in the industry and the idea was to take away the stigma of construction," she said.

"There are lots of opportunities, be it digital, graphic design, accountancy, law - it's not just hard hats and steel toe cap boots."

Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.