Женщина-прораб из Мидлсбро опровергает мифы о «красотке» в строительстве

'People don't believe me when I tell them my job but I've worked hard to get this far' Grace has been in the construction industry for years - but says people still can't believe it when she tells them Robert Rowlands Deputy editor, money and lifestyle hub A Middlesbrough woman says people cannot believe it when she tells them what she does for a living. Grace Graham was recently promoted to project manager after starting out in her industry almost a decade ago. ‌ The 25-year-old says she's 'grafted' every day to get to this position - and rejects comments from ignorant people who say her looks have helped her. The mum of one admits these comments only come from a minority of men in her role in the construction industry as the majority have been 'brilliant' in helping her to build her career. Grace from Middlesbrough said: "I would say you have to be thick-skinned. ‌ "As much as you shouldn't have to deal with it, we [women] know what we are and we know we can do this job properly. When you are a woman in construction, you need to have a bit more resilience and prove it to them by just getting on with your job. ‌ "I love it [my career] but sometimes you're just not taken very seriously as a woman. 90% of my team and everyone else I've come across [in this industry] is brilliant and I get on very well with them and I know I'm just as good at my job as any guy is. "But throughout my career, I've had people say I can't be a woman and manage a team of men. A few months ago, I was working with [someone] and I was called emotional. "I get called bossy [...] and often told I'm trying to prove a point. I knew if I was a man I would have been called assertive. ‌ "As a woman, I feel you have to fight a lot more to be in those meeting rooms compared to men who can just walk in. Don't get me wrong, many men have really helped me in my career, but it is sometimes a fight to get through and you're not taken seriously. "Sometimes I think how I look plays a part. People assume it's 'pretty privilege' and this really annoys me as they don't realise how hard I've grafted to get where I am. People have also said to me I've only got my job due to the way I look. ‌ "I think men do double-take sometimes when I'm hosting a meeting or walk into a meeting room and question why I'm there." When at her local pub or on a night out, Grace says people are often 'gobsmacked' that she works in construction. Grace said: "When I'm not at work and I tell people I work in construction I've had people not believe me. I've had to show pictures before. When they ask what I do, it's a total gobsmack [moment] and they don't believe me." Grace shared a TikTok clip about her career, which racked up more than 84,000 likes and 600 comments. Grace said: "On my TikTok the number of girls that messaged and commented with their own [construction] photos was amazing. ‌ "Yeah, you've got a few lads going 'oh God, what are they doing? Idiots. They wouldn't know the right side of a hammer', but they're just proving themselves as to what they are. Most of the comments section was so positive and it was all of these women coming together." Grace, who began her construction career aged 17 in admin at a housing company, then completed a degree apprenticeship and got her APM Project Manager Qualification and other credentials. In the next 18 months she hopes to be promoted to a senior project manager and one day wants to become an operational director. She is now encouraging other women to consider a job in the construction industry and would recommend completing a degree apprenticeship. Grace said: "I know that'll happen [promotion] - there's no stopping me. Article continues below "I'd tell other girls to look into all of the different types of roles before jumping into something because construction is such a huge industry. For the girls leaving school, I'd really advocate an apprenticeship as there's nothing better than learning on the job." Grace's TikTok post generated hundreds of comments, with many celebrating her achievements. One wrote: "When you said you were the boss, I had a fat grin on my face." Another commented to say: "Kind of brilliant that we have women working in construction."