City Building Case Study
Name: Alanna Feron
Age: 28 years old
Job title: Mechanical Contracts Manager
Alanna Feron is one of the many women at Glasgow-based construction firm, City Building, taking a leading role in major projects.
As a mechanical contracts manager, 28-year-old Alanna is responsible for making sure that her team is delivering quality work in a timely and efficient manner. She oversees some of City Building’s biggest construction projects, including the £25m Sighthill Campus, Dalmarnock Primary School and Gowanbank Primary School. At any one time she can be responsible for as many as 36 plumbers, heating engineers, ventilation specialists and fire protection engineers, across the three sites.
Unlike many of her colleagues in managerial roles, who take up the position following university, Alanna started out as an apprentice. After leaving school aged 16, she began a four-year plumbing apprenticeship at City Building.
Over the past 12 years, she has worked her way through the ranks to become one of just 12 contracts managers. It is this experience on the tools that helps Alanna run her team.
She said: “I know a lot of the guys on my team from my apprenticeship. We all came up together, so our relationship is strong. To be an effective manager, it is really important that you don’t just dictate to them. Having the trade experience has really been a big help, as I understand what the guys are doing. However, it is obviously not essential.
“Being a woman in construction certainly has its challenges. You need to have a thick skin and can’t get too caught up in the stereotypes. But it is a fantastic industry with so many opportunities to learn and grown.
“The guys have always taken me under their wing and have never made me feel anything other than a central part of the team.
“I would encourage any women interested in a career in construction to follow their passion.
“So much has been done in recent years to break down barriers and there are now more woman than ever working in the sector.”
