An environmentally green home renovation in Ipswich is built and designed by all-female crew
The couple are hoping to promote gender equality in the construction industry by showcasing the talented women working in the industry.
An all-female crew on an environmentally friendly mission. That's what's happening in Ipswich, Suffolk, as married couple Kat and Fiona (Fi) Parson set the goal to update their former 1950s council home to something more green and sustainable.
Kat and Fi are both conscious about the impact they're having on the planet, and so felt it was only right to look at the green options available.
They also both have around 20 years in construction and have first-hand experience in what they call a "male-dominated space." They also have experience working within sustainability.
"Could you bring the bacon sandwiches and the coffees, love?"
We asked Kat what motivated these decisions.
She said. "It is well documented that women are severely underrepresented in the construction industry.
"Latest figures for 2023 from Statista indicate women make up 17% of the construction workforce and only around 1 to 2% of skilled trades.
"There has been an encouraging increase in overall numbers of women in the industry since the pandemic (up from 14%), but it is vitally important that gender quality and diversity continue to improve.
"Sadly, discrimination and old attitudes are still present, attracting more women, plus welcoming transgender and non-binary people, is essential if the skills shortage in the industry is to be closed.
An example Kat gave was when their architecture was in a meeting, as the most senior individual there, and someone said, "Next time could you bring the bacon sandwiches and the coffees, love?"
Kat and Fi believe "employing a diverse workforce will benefit employers, increase innovation and enrich the construction industry
She said: "We know we can't change the construction industry or societal norms on our own or in the short term, but through our initiative and showcasing our experience, we are hoping to be able to start conversations, raise awareness, empower others and cause a ripple effect to make change happen."
As a result the pair have chosen to hire women at every stage possible.
Kat told us this includes everything from "design, concepts, architecture, structure, engineers, brick layers and putting up the timber structure."
She explained that there's such a variety of roles in the construction industry and they want to make more women aware of these roles, as some of them are still facing huge gaps for women filling these positions.
"It is putting the pressure back on building companies"
Another thing Kat and Fi have considered is the PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) that's needed such as period products, or specific clothing tailored for women.
As well as considering gender equality, they're also working towards sustainability.
Kat said they wanted their home to last and "future proof it" so that their two young children and other generations can benefit for years to come.
Some of the changes they're making include: super insulation; the type of concrete they're using; hive tech; air source heat pump; thermostats and EV chargers.
Kat told us she would like to see any new houses being built, being constructed with the environment in mind, and have that become the norm.
"It does potentially cost more than the bog standard traditional building materials. But in terms of what you can then sell those properties for, long term, people will buy an eco-friendly house.
"There's such an uptake in this because people are really conscious about this.
"This is a project that we wanted to do, and the more we delved into it, the more we realised how much of an impact we could make with this.
"It is putting the pressure back on building companies, especially with the government targets, we're looking at another half a million houses that the government have pledged to build. But we haven't got the workforce to be able to build those houses if they were sustainable, you'd be able to actually throw these houses up."
Sustainability is in demand
kat and Fi's views aligns with new research which says...
- 30% of Brits say their projects are aimed at making their homes greener and more sustainable
- 46% confirm that eco-friendly upgrades are a high priority in their renovation plans
- 61% agree that when renovating, saving money is just as important as saving the planet
- 70% of people shop around to get the best deal, and a third want to make changes that add value to their property.
- 60% of people said they would love to hear more ideas on how to make their homes more sustainable and budget-friendly
- Among those under 25 years old, 43% say their motivation is to implement changes that will save them money in the long run, a sentiment echoed even more strongly by 59% of 25–34-year-old.
- For a quarter of females (25%), renovations are less about aesthetics and more about economics. Boosting the value of their property. With rising property prices and a competitive housing market, many see the bank holiday as an opportunity to add equity.
Kat and Fi are hoping their home will be ready to move in by Christmas.