The Butterfield Park and Ride project in Luton marks the first of its kind, with the project, contract and financial management team led by an all-female workforce from VolkerHighways, Luton Council, Project Centre Ltd and Zack Contracting Ltd.
The scheme comprises 320 parking bays, including 17 disabled and 19 EV bays, supported by 19 high-capacity 22kV EV chargers and a new 1MVA substation.
We recently spent some time with the ladies on the project:
- Rachael Geddes, Project Manager, VolkerHighways
- Shannon Rivolta, Project Quantity Surveyor, VolkerHighways
- Jiah Mien Teh, Project Manager for Luton Council and Project Centre Ltd
- Rebecca Gray, Commercial Manager, Zack Contracting Ltd
What makes this site or project unique compared to others you've worked on?
Rachael: This isn’t a usual job for VolkerHighways but one that shows everything we are capable of. From planning permissions to site clearance and unique activities, there’s lots of learning involved which makes the scheme very exciting.
Jiah Mien: Throughout this project, we are committed to delivering biodiversity net gain through a range of targeted environmental measures. These include protecting existing habitats, installing bat boxes, incorporating RootBridge systems within tree pits, trialling sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS), and maximising the reuse and recycling of materials.
In addition, we are using hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) to power the site compound, supporting a more circular economy and reducing carbon emissions.
As ladies within a male dominated industry, what inspired each of you to pursue a career in construction?
“We fell into construction”
Jiah Mien: Although I have a big family of civil engineers, construction wasn’t my original plan, I wanted to be a pilot.
Rachael: My background is in project management working in IT originally, but I quickly found I had a niche in articulating technical and non-technical knowledge. These transferable skills led me into construction.
Rebecca and Shannon: We both started as apprentices in Business Administration, before finding Quantity Surveying.
What challenges have you faced as women in construction management, and how have you overcome them?
“As attitudes continue to change through a stronger focus on social value and school engagement, more women will see this as a career of choice. In the future, they won’t fall into the industry by chance; they’ll be informed, empowered and actively choose it.”
Rebecca: It probably won’t surprise anyone to hear that construction as a sector is around a decade behind the curve, with highways arguably even further. While women in the industry often feel the need to prove themselves more and can naturally undersell their abilities, I personally have faced very few challenges as a woman working in this field.
Rachael: There is still a common tendency to associate the role of project lead with men. That said, although people can be quick to judge, I’ve found they are just as quick to acknowledge and apologise when they recognise their assumptions.
Jiah Mien: When I first started in the industry, female PPE was few and far between, but that’s becoming better which makes me proud of where the industry is heading.
What does it mean to you to be part of an all-female management team in construction?
“It’s amazing and rare to get this opportunity”
Jiah Mien: I didn’t even register at first that the management team was all female, and that says a lot about the company culture. Being part of a diverse organisation makes you proud of the company you work for and the contribution you make.
How has your leadership style evolved while working in this industry?
Rachael: You reach a point where you’re happy to say ‘I don’t know’ and aren’t afraid to ask questions. I was recently invited to a meeting because, apparently, I don’t shy away from asking the questions others are thinking but hesitate to raise - which I took as a compliment.
How do you approach collaboration and decision-making across the team?
“We all want the same goal which makes collaboration really easy.”
Rachael: Being in the same open, welcoming office helps. Having everyone together means we can collaborate, debate and be transparent with each other on what is achievable.
Rebecca: From the very start, working together felt natural. Despite not having worked together before, aligning on a common goal and setting expectations early made collaboration straightforward and enjoyable.
Shannon: I joined the project at a later stage but felt comfortable very quickly. We all work in similar ways, which made it easy to pick up information and integrate into the team.
What advice would you give to women aspiring to leadership roles in construction?
Rebecca: Be confident in your own ability, you don’t always need to be proving yourself. If you are good at what you do, take it.
Rachael: Reach out and grab opportunities. Push yourself, that’s when you grow and welcome change with open arms.
Shannon: Step out your comfort zone, and that’s exactly what I did by taking on the role here at Butterfield.
