To celebrate Women in Construction Week, which takes place from 1-7 March 2026, BE News is running a series of interviews with inspirational women who work across the construction industry.
Name: Sophie Kettle
Job title: Senior site manager at Greencore Homes
What I do: My responsibilities include the management of build programmes, the health and safety and the general day-to-day running of the construction site.
Why I got into the property industry: I always wanted to do something fulfilling and something I wouldn’t get bored of. When I was 17, I was completing the first year of college, I wasn’t certain what I wanted to do, but an advert for a trainee site manager appeared at the construction site opposite my school, so I went ahead and applied. Early on in my apprenticeship I realised that no two days are the same and this is something I would enjoy.
How I did it: I entered a trainee graduate management apprenticeship that allowed me to work whilst gaining a qualification and earning money. It was hard work, and whilst my friends were out having fun, I was studying! It gave me a good head start and I was able to climb the career ladder a lot faster than most.
My first proper job: I was delivering papers and working Saturdays at my local hairdressers at 14.
My first big break: When I was 21, as an assistant site manager, I was put onto a site that needed rescheduling/sequencing and generally organising. I took this as an opportunity and put my all into it. After a few weeks I was promoted to site manager and ended up taking over that site.
My inspiration(s): My mum. She has always been very supportive and had confidence in my decision (even when I told her one Monday evening that I was dropping out of college!)
The biggest challenge I’ve encountered to date: The challenges I’ve faced have been more personal. I needed to build a good level of confidence and resilience. When you are younger, you tend to have more self-doubt and you are more conscience of people’s opinions. It is easy to become consumed in the day-to-day tasks and forget how far you have come. There are still people in the industry who are not used to seeing women on site, but in the past nine years, I have come to understand how to manage that effectively. Experience and knowledge has taught me to believe in myself, and planning and being methodical has given me the confidence to excel in a line of work that is different to the norm. If you believe in yourself, everyone else will too
My greatest achievement/proudest moment to date: I built my own house in Luton in 2023 at 23 years of age.
The biggest misconception people have about the property industry: One of the biggest misconceptions is that the property and construction industry is purely male-dominated and only suited to certain types of people. While it has traditionally been male-heavy, that perception is changing, and rightly so. Women work across every area of the industry, from site management and surveying to technical, commercial and leadership roles. It’s also often assumed that you have to be loud or forceful to succeed, but that hasn’t been my experience. The industry values competence, organisation and strong communication just as much as personality. There are so many diverse roles within property and there really is space for everyone.
My biggest bugbear about the industry/the one thing I would change about the industry: My biggest bugbear about the industry and something I’d change is the perception that it’s a male-dominated space where you must be loud and forceful to succeed. When I started at 17, I was quite timid and worried about not being seen or heard. But my experience has shown the industry to be far more inclusive than I ever expected. I’ve learned that you don’t need to be aggressive to be an effective manager, and confidence, competence, and consistency speak much louder.
Where I’d like to be in five years’ time career-wise: The next step for me is project manager then construction manager, so I hope to be a construction manager by then.
Who I’d invite, living or dead, to a dinner party: I’d invite Kevin McCloud. I’ve always admired how he champions individuality in housebuilding and isn’t afraid to challenge conventional thinking. Having built my own home, I’d love to sit down with him and talk about the realities behind self-build projects, the risks, the resilience it takes, and the satisfaction when it all comes together. I think it would make for a really interesting conversation about innovation, sustainability and what the future of housebuilding should look like.
What I do in my downtime: I really enjoyed the challenge of building my own house although it came with its stresses and issues. I love music and music festivals.
The job I’d be doing if I was not doing this: At 16, I wanted to be a PE teacher, so most likely, I’d probably be working as a PE teacher.
My advice for someone just starting out: My advice to someone just starting out is to explore all your options. Look at online resources, college courses and companies like Greencore that offer apprenticeships. Don’t overlook industries like construction management, where there are diverse roles ranging from buyers and estimators to surveyors and technical specialists. I’m potentially biased, but an apprenticeship can be a smart route. You’ll gain real experience, earn while you learn and build valuable knowledge early on. It’s hard work, but by your mid-20s you could be fully qualified, highly experienced and managing major projects while others are just entering the job market.
My motto/mantra: My mantra is “knowledge is power.” I approach challenging conversations by truly knowing my craft and preparing thoroughly.
