TWENTY-year-old Becky Freeman, from Eastleigh, has joined the growing band of women working in the construction industry with a career as an estimator at Hampshire-based EBC.

Becky originally joined the company a year ago as an administration assistant but decided to switch to the sharper end of the business.

"I looked into what I needed to do to become more involved in the work being done here, and found I could enrol as a trainee estimator,'' she said. "I am now attending evening classes at Eastleigh College for a GNVQ in building and construction.''

Becky is not the only woman working in a male-dominated role at EBC. Heather Norwood is a fully qualified estimator and Janice Dennett is an assistant surveyor.

Heather joined 18 months ago from another construction company because she wanted to improve her career prospects by gaining experience with a regional company working on major projects. Heather, who hopes to go into management, says she is delighted with her current role.

Janice, from Fareham, never doubted what she wanted to do after leaving school, and was supported by her former site agent father in her

decision. Work experience confirmed her choice of career, and after joining EBC, Janice gained a BSc in construction technology from Portsmouth University.

She has been with EBC for five years.