Pamela Walsh is a HR Business Partner, Recruitment & Talent Manager at BAM Contractors.

What was your professional journey before moving into Construction?

I never set out to work in HR and I spent the first 10 years of my Career working in Operations in Managerial positions. After secondary school I went straight into a trainee manager programme with a large retailer, all education being facilitated in house. The in-house development programme for managers was excellent and covered all aspects of HR. This is when I got my first taste for HR. As I moved through my career this really stood to me. I eventually took a secondment role in the HR department and that was it, there was no going back I loved it!

I continued my education with accreditations/qualifications in Employment Law, Health & Safety (HR), Leadership and most recently Project Management, I am currently completing a Diploma in Change Management. I have undertaken studies in response to the company’s strategic objectives which support me in delivering more effectively in my role. Next up is Coaching in 2022!

How did you make the move into the construction industry?

I was looking for a new opportunity and met with BAM Ireland. My interview included our management board, 3 males, 1 female and our HR Director, also female – it was great to see and meet a diverse group of professionals while considering a career in construction, in particular women in construction, this inspired me to join BAM.

Women in Construction are crucial to the future of BAM and we are committed to developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our customer base and communities in which we operate, creating an environment which enables everyone to fulfil their potential.

Promoting the industry and creating an awareness campaign is a key priority. BAM have recently launched a gender inclusive recruitment policy and will continue to educate through gender bias training, Mentoring and networking.

We are seeing an increase in female applicants and new hires for our graduate opportunities which has been positively received. I think it is key to discuss construction at an early age by educating primary and post primary females on the industry and promote it as a career destination.

In 2019 25% of graduates who started in our business were female, that increased to 33% in 2020 so a positive upward trend. We are committed to increasing this again in 2021, and our female hires in core construction roles on our sites and in our management teams.

Would you recommend a move to construction to other women? If so, is there any advice you could share in relation to making the move?

Absolutely! 

Construction is an exciting space to work in and we’re continually seeking out new ways of doing things, in addition to our focus on sustainability and technology.

There are many opportunities in Construction, from office to site, all of which are open to everyone! If you’re considering a move, do your research on the different types of opportunities available, consider your core skills and where these are transferable.

 If you also want to know more about construction, get in touch! We can be contacted on social media and are always happy to support and advise.