''Best thing I ever did...''

R & M Williams are committed to supporting individuals into the construction industry and we wanted to highlight an individual who was employed via the Beyond Bricks and Mortar Swansea City Council City & County of Swansea scheme that we have employed for around 18months Lauren Ellis

Lauren is a lone parent and Mum of three who had worked in the care sector for a number of years achieving the position of Senior in a care home, working throughout covid-19, in Yorkshire.

Lauren made a decision in 2020 that she wanted a change of career and that she wanted to move back to where her family were, so she came to Wales.

Working closely with the local jobcentre, Lauren was informed of an opportunity for her to apply for a Construction site Administrator role with R&M Williams - she jumped at the chance.

Lauren spoke about how she was passionate about the construction industry and how she had always done her own DIY at home. She then went on to explain to me how she had been helping her sister, who buys – improves and sells houses and her brother-in-law who is a builder. Lauren reported how everything she knows is ‘self-taught’ and also states she had ‘zero’ experience within an Admin role but she had decided to take Level 1 and 2 in Excel and a certification in Office admin - with her outlook and attitude she was successful in being offered the role.

''I get excited about going on to site!!'' – Lauren states that every time she goes on to site, she is amazed at the changes she can see and how hard everyone works. She feels that having the opportunity to ‘learn on the job’ has meant that she has found her own way of doing things and had the ability to implement some ways of working on the site. Lauren is a Community Benefits champion - has worked closely with our Social Value Manager and made some great connections in the local area including a local school for disabled children.

Lauren is keen to progress in her career within in the company and we are keen to support this. She has been partaking in a Business Management course with Open University, in her own time and is an advocate for Women in Construction ''I feel very proud to be a woman in construction'' and Lauren hopes that her story can empower others and show that it is never too late to change and grow your career.

Thank you to Lauren for this interview.

Written and compiled by Freya Church Social Value Manager at R&M Williams