Topic People
Date 12 Mar 2026
In our concluding interview in celebration of Women in Construction Week and International Women’s Day, we speak with HR Business Partner Lorraine Beadell and award-winner Pam McNeill, Business Assurance Manager at Galliford Try Fabrications.
Lorraine’s efforts across our Ex-Military Programme have enabled our business to achieve Gold in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, the highest badge of honour for organisations that demonstrate support to the Armed Forces community. They have also contributed to Galliford Try being named one of the Top 50 Employers for Veterans by the GREAT British Employers of Veterans.
Meanwhile, Pam won the prize for Engineering Excellence at the Scottish Ex-Forces in Business’s Awards – part of the world’s largest celebration of Ex-Military in second careers, recognising the value veterans add to businesses. Pam served for 23 years as a metalsmith in the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers, which saw her repair and fabricate complex components for armoured vehicles in high-pressure environments, mentor junior tradesmen as a Platoon Sergeant, and earn commendations for courage and leadership. Those same qualities have underpinned her career progression at Galliford Try, where she was promoted to Business Assurance Manager just four months after joining.
Tell us what International Women’s Day means to you.
Lorraine: It's about celebrating the things that we can do. Not our differences, but what we can achieve; that actually, women can do anything they want to do – there are no limitations. When I was growing up, the career options were to be a nurse or a secretary. That was about it. I remember trying to get into technical drawing when I was choosing my subjects, and I was told, “No, you'll never get a job doing that. You should do food and nutrition or home economics”.
I'm glad it's moved on since then, and that time has changed the approach and the attitude towards careers for women. So, I think it's about continually sharing the change that women can make in the world and that there’s unlimited choice when it comes to what you can do, and how you can change attitudes.
Pam: Growing up in a council estate in Scotland, with a single mother, I have seen many hard, strong and independent women, but I didn't see women in management roles, leadership roles, business roles, or women in jobs like construction, driving trucks, engineering, etc. International Women’s Day to me is that opportunity to show young girls that life is what you make it - if one woman can do it, why not more? You’ve got to see it to believe it, and role models are crucial for this. It's a lot better now for young girls growing up, but we have some way to go in certain industries.
Tell us about some of your achievements here at Galliford Try.
Pam: I love doing (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) STEM and inspirational speaking events, giving my lived experience in the Army and highlighting the various jobs in construction. I love that it could be the turning or lightbulb moment for one of those kids. If they can relate to you, it could make a difference to a child and show them that it doesn't matter what cards you've been dealt – you can reshuffle that deck. I tell them my story: I lived on a council estate, was raised by a single mum, served 23 years in the Army, and have a successful career with two children, and I’ve just bought my first house all by myself.
Outside of work, I’m proud to be the Veteran Committee member in the ASN Scotland (Army Service Women’s Network). The ASN Scotland is a professional network that supports women of all ranks across Joint Military Command Scotland (JMC Scotland) Regular, Reserve, Civil Service and Veterans. The network includes all units that serve within Scotland and women from Veteran networks, for example Armed Forces charity SSAFA, Legion Scotland, (Women's Royal Army Corp) WRAC etc, personnel. Next, I’m hoping to start making my metal art again to auction off for charity now I am settled into civilian life.
Lorraine: While my main role is HR Business Partner, I really do enjoy my work with our Military leavers. I am passionate about it and just to give back to those who have given for us so much more than we could ever give to them, is really rewarding.
When I first joined, Galliford Try’s Ex-Military population consisted of 37 members of staff, we held the Bronze Award for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. Now, through the work we have done, we hold the Gold Award and have more than 100 Ex-Forces employees, and these numbers continue to grow.
Tell us more about the work that you are involved in here at Galliford Try.
Lorraine: We actively engage with the Career Transition Programme, which Service leavers enlist with to help transition into their civilian careers. We attend recruitment fairs up and down the UK, to share opportunities with our business. We also run a programme where we can offer a two-week unpaid placement for Service leavers to experience what it's like behind those construction gates. What is it like to be a project manager, a site manager, a design manager within the construction industry and many other roles. How can they utilise their transferable skills? They get to spend time with the project teams, and across different business units, to give a taster of what’s available. Everyone who sends in a CV is invited to a Teams call with myself or one of the programme team, and if they've got the credentials required for an open role, we’ll pass their details on to the Resourcing team for interview. If they are in their resettlement period, I would then discuss and consider the two-week placement opportunity.