Caitriona Flood
Health & Safety Officer, Cairn
Caitriona Flood, Health and Safety Officer, Cairn, discusses how supportive colleagues and mentorship can make a big difference to women in the construction sector.
What career progression and development support have you received?
Caitriona Flood: I worked in childcare for eight years — which is female-dominated — before joining Cairn in 2022. It’s been a big swap. Admittedly, I was intimidated going on-site for the first time because there were so few women. That said, whatever team you’re in, you are always supported by mentors and colleagues, so you feel as though you’re an important part of something bigger.
Have you had a mentor who has helped you in your career?
Mentorship has been really important for me because I had no background in construction. My first manager, Bronagh, taught me the soft skills I needed because obviously, I was suddenly working in an industry where there was a lot of male energy. She also taught me how important it was to do things my own way — and about the language of construction. Initially, I’d sit in a meeting and not understand all the terminology, so it felt great to have Bronagh on my side. She helped me navigate things. I also shadowed a lot of people to figure out how I could put my own spin on the job.
Whatever team you’re in,
you are always supported
by mentors and colleagues.
Did allyship play any part in your development?
It did. I had a lot of support from my colleagues — so when I went to college to study for a diploma in Occupational Health and Safety six months after I joined the company, I already knew a lot from learning on-site. There were also various initiatives I took advantage of prior to my diploma. I can’t tell you how many small courses I went on that built up the big bank of knowledge I now have. I also learned on the job and pushed myself out of my comfort zone.
Have you had male allies support you in your development journey?
Absolutely. No one on my team has ever made me feel different or less because I’m a woman. If we want to get to a place of equality, it’s not just women who need to be leading. Men need to help too. I’ve been given more understanding at Cairn from male managers than I’ve had from previous employers.
There’s also a lot of focus on mental wellbeing, so if you’re having a bad day, there’s no weakness in being upset or showing your emotions. The support and emotional intelligence I’ve had from male colleagues have been great.
