WOMEN’STEC sat down with Caoimhe Sherlock and Gerard Keenan of CFM to chat about Caoimhe’s journey.
Caoimhe's entry into Joinery wasn't always the plan! When she first signed up for Camp America, she wanted to do kayaking and canoeing. Needing to choose a third activity for the summer and because of Caoimhe's GCSE in Technology & Design (T&D), she chose Woodwork. Once the camps noted that she had woodworking skills, they invited her over on the spot!
"I remember being handed a bag of power tools!" Caoimhe recalls. That summer experience had her hooked on joinery, and she returned for a second summer. But when COVID hit, Caoimhe was working in a bar and restless. "I didn't enjoy sitting down all day," she admits.
Determined that she wanted to work at a job she loved, Caoimhe applied for an apprenticeship. The journey was not without its challenges. "I always believed that if I did something wrong, people would put it down to me being a woman," she says. "But that wasn't the situation — I was my own worst enemy. People were constantly reminding me that I should be proud of myself for pursuing something I was passionate about.”
Caoimhe is currently studying a Level 3 Apprenticeship in Carpentry and Joinery at Belfast Met and works as a Joiner at Combined Facilities Management (CFM). She was amazed but elated when she was named Apprentice of the Year at the NIHE Artes Awards earlier this year. "Two other contestants were shortlisted one of which was a fellow Plumbing Apprentice at CFM, and when I won, I thought, 'Oh God, I have to stand up and speak in front of all those people!' But I was thrilled. The trophy is proudly displayed at home."
Her message of encouragement to other women thinking about becoming a trade worker? "Just do it. Don't let fear hold you back. It's shorter and way less expensive than a university degree, and the skills you learn are priceless.’ Gerard Keenan, Head of People at CFM adds, “Trades aren't disappearing, demand for them is only growing!"
Caoimhe believes early exposure is the key to having more girls in trades. "I never really saw women working in trades when I was young. In T&D class in school, everything was pre-cut and we just assembled it, glued it together basically! There wasn't enough hands-on experience showing that girls can do this too." She mentioned that it’s common for a class in joinery to have just one girl, while 60 are in the hair and beauty class. "Girls aren't thinking about it because they really aren't presented with it as an option," she says.
Now working at CFM, Caoimhe is continuing her learning through a HNC in Construction Management, but joinery remains her passion. "It’s where my heart is," she says proudly.
Reflecting on the industry, Gerard highlights the positive changes happening: "At CFM, 50% of our board are women, and 1 in 7 of our 350+ person team are female. We’re making progress, but there is more work to be done to get women into construction and particularly into trades" CFM are proud #NotJustForBoysChampions with WOMEN’STEC, having signed up in 2022 for the initiative which aims to work with the industry to enable more women and girls into roles where they are under-represented.
For anyone unsure about joining the industry, Caoimhe’s message is clear: "Give it a go! It’s a rewarding career, and you’ll always have valuable skills.” Gerard adds “With the rise of AI and technology, trades like joinery, plumbing and plastering are more important than ever. There will always be a need for skilled craftspeople. We are delighted to have Caoimhe on our team, and if she inspires one girl to go down this route, then it’s a success!”
Caoimhe's is a story of determination and hard work. She's paving the way for generations of women to come into the construction business and thrive. Thanks to Caoimhe and Gerard for taking the time to speak to us – it’s great to have you onboard as #NotJustForBoysChampions!
