Women across the trade industry continue to smash glass ceilings and set the standard.
In the equipment hire sector, Kennards Hire celebrates women making an impact, not only during Women in Construction Week, but every day.
Powering the industry
This includes Geraldton Branch Manager Meagan George. She leads a management team of women at her branch, something she never saw herself doing when she entered the industry.
Reflecting on her early career, Meagan says there were few women in leadership roles when she first entered the industry, making progression seem a distant possibility.
“If I reflect on when I first entered the industry, there weren’t many women in leadership positions, so the idea of me progressing through the ranks seemed a long way off,” she said.
Today, she places strong emphasis on visibility and mentoring the next generation.
“Visibility is so important to inspire and why in my current management position I take my role as a mentor very seriously.
“‘If you can’t see it, you can’t be it’ — a mantra I fully back. The importance of Kennards Hire’s mentor/mentee initiatives have been crucial in both mine and other women’s development, both personally and professionally.”
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Meagan started her career in equipment hire at 30 after raising a young family. Having managed mining accommodation when she was younger, she was no stranger to being surrounded by blue-collar blokes.
“I felt my experience to date had equipped me well. I quickly realised that working and supporting on the big events and mobilising large sites was an area I enjoyed immensely,” she said.
“The business I worked for was acquired by Kennards Hire in 2022 and I’ve been a proud member of the team ever since.”
New pathways into the industry
Kennards Hire Burleigh West Casual Branch Hand Holly Caley-Hayward might just be dipping her toes into the industry, but she’s loving it so far.
She joined Kennards Hire through its partnership with the Kennards Hire Foundation and TRACTION for Young People — a not-for-profit that helps connect young people with new skills.
“Through mentoring, practical training and job-readiness support, programs like TRACTION Connect build the confidence, accountability and workplace behaviours (essentially, the fundamentals) that employers in construction consistently need,” Holly said.
“This means that when young people reach their time to enter the workforce, they don’t need anywhere near as much hand holding and are able to walk in with a utility belt of communication skills, resilience and a professional level of responsibility.
“This significantly cuts onboarding and initial development hours, meaning those employing new talent are able to take on a contributing employee immediately.
“If the industry is serious about long-term workforce sustainability, structured pathways like this have to be part of the conversation.”
Mentorship driving the next generation
Something Holly and Kennards Hire have in common is the high value they place on mentorship and its importance in retention.
Holly believes mentorship should be seen as a strategic investment rather than an optional extra for busy organisations.
“Mentorship is often framed as gravy for busy organisations, a ‘nice to have’ that’s intangible nature makes it difficult to strategically incorporate into an organisation,” she said.
“This is an outdated, archaic view of an asset that should be treated as a competitive necessity.
“To avoid dips in retention or damaging blows to confidence, young people entering the industrial sector need clear structure and consistent feedback.
“Focusing on this builds a strong development system for new talent, one that ensures they have a clear understanding of standards from day one.”
Building momentum
Whether Meagan, Holly or anyone at Kennards Hire, there’s a clear dedication to growing the involvement women have in the equipment hire and trades sectors.
“As I say, there’s no denying that progress has been made during the 21 years I’ve been in the trades industry but we must continue to strive for more,” Meagan said.
“Kennards Hire has been one of the frontrunners in this regard and it’s important for myself and others in the business to continue to lead the charge.”
