London’s iconic bridges stand as a testament to the city’s rich history and architectural prowess. Among them, Waterloo Bridge holds a unique story, once known as “The Ladies Bridge” for the significant contribution of women during its construction. Waterloo Bridge was rebuilt during World War ll and women made up a large majority of the construction crew.

Despite this historical feat, women remain vastly underrepresented in today’s construction industry, constituting only 14% of the total workforce, with a mere 1% working on construction sites. In this article, we delve into the inspiring career of Katie Kelleher, a former crane operator, as she shares her journey and the pivotal role she plays in mentoring young women seeking careers in construction.

The Unconventional Path

Katie Kelleher’s journey into construction began unconventionally. Previously working as a recruiter, she noticed the gender gap in the industry and the potential for lucrative opportunities. Intrigued, she explored apprenticeship schemes, eventually receiving a call from Laing O’Rouke for a crane operator apprenticeship.

“I got that phone call when I was driving home. And he said, “How’d you feel about being a crane operator” and I said, “I’ll get back to you”. Kelleher recounts.

Despite many of her friends and family warning her about the difficulty of working on a construction site and advising her not to take the role, Kelleher ignored them. “The more people kept asking me and telling me how wrong it would be for me, the more I was like, no, actually, I do really want to do it, I’m gonna prove everyone wrong.” Kelleher said.

Overcoming Stereotypes and Challenges

Entering a male-dominated field, Katie faced skepticism and challenges. Her decision to become a crane operator raised eyebrows, but undeterred, she underwent extensive training, mastering tower cranes, crawler cranes, and more. The first day on site, she encountered an all-male environment, and felt very out of place.

“I don’t think I’ve ever felt so uncomfortable in my whole life. And I thought, why am I doing this to myself? Why did I leave recruitment? Can I do this? I always said, if I was a lot younger, or if that was my first job, that would have been my first and last day, and I’d never have gone back. But I had something to prove.”

Navigating the Construction Landscape

Katie’s early experiences on construction sites, notably at Tottenham Court Road station for the Elizabeth Line, were marked by the constant scrutiny of being a woman in a crane. Despite the pressure, she excelled in her role. Later, she ventured into even more challenging projects, like the Thames Tideway, working on a barge in the middle of the River Thames.

Kelleher recalls her time working on Thames Tideway “I had to get a boat out there every day, you can’t just walk out there. And operating on water is a real challenge. And it would be worse because you get the river boats that go up and down. And they’re not meant to speed but they do speed. So when they speed it throws everything off. So the cranes wobble around, you might have a load on you might have someone on the end of it. I sat there and I thought, who did I upset to get this job?”

Leaving the Crane

The demanding nature of crane operation took a toll on Katie’s well-being. Long hours, unpredictable schedules, and challenging conditions led to burnout. Transitioning to a trainee AP role, she eventually moved to become the Technical and Development Officer for the Construction Plant Hire Association. Katie now dedicates her time to mentoring and encouraging women to pursue careers in construction.

Recognizing the lack of female role models in construction, Katie emphasizes the importance of mentorship. She acknowledges the industry’s fundamental issues, including inflexibility and a lack of consideration for work-life balance. However she still encourages young women to get into an industry that has changed her life.

“When I go into schools, I don’t see it as telling all the young people, “go and be crane operators”. It’s hard. It’s hard to be a crane operator. But it’s about saying, look, there’s more than what school’s telling you. There’s a lot of different things out there you can do, you can earn a lot of money.”

Kelleher challenges the construction sector to become more attractive to young people by fostering flexibility, inclusivity, and prioritising mental health. Kelleher advocates for a paradigm shift in the construction industry’s approach, urging companies to embrace flexibility. 

Kelleher says, “To me, the answer is fairly simple. And we do it in many other industries, we need to be more flexible in our approach into how people work. There is no reason in my mind why two people can’t share a shift on a crane. Why can’t you be the one who drops the kids off, picks them up. looks after the parents in the evening.”

While acknowledging improvements in the industry’s mindset, Katie remains vigilant about the need for genuine commitment and follow-through. She shares personal experiences and challenges, emphasizing the industry’s ongoing journey toward inclusivity and gender equality.

One solution Kelleher believes would be effective is  intertwining mental health with health and safety regulations, she believes the industry can better retain workers.

“People’s mental health should be put under health and safety as far as I’m concerned. We shouldn’t be contributing to making it worse. So it should be taken that seriously because people are dying. People are dying, people are, you know, doing horrible things, because of the situations because of how they feel. And they can’t open up. So maybe we do need to put it on a health and safety level. If people are dying. It is a health and safety level. But maybe we don’t view it like that, because it doesn’t happen on site.”

Katie Kelleher’s journey from recruiter to crane operator to mentor reflects the resilience and determination needed to break barriers in the construction industry. Through her advocacy and mentoring, she not only encourages more women to enter the field but also challenges the industry to evolve fundamentally. As construction adapts to the changing times, Katie stands as a beacon, guiding the way for future generations of women to build their careers in this dynamic and historically male-dominated field.