Women in Construction Week – Della Woods

At Hopkins, we are proud to highlight and celebrate Della Woods, our Contract Manager on our largest project to date. Della is an incredible leader, and we hope sharing her story inspires more women to explore careers in construction. 𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗵𝘂𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝘆.

In Della’s words:

“Working as a woman in construction… well, where do I start? Honestly, I kind of stumbled into it. It wasn’t exactly a childhood dream to master spreadsheets, programs and RFIs. But I’ve always thrived in organising chaos and construction offers plenty of that. I’m a doer I can’t sit still. I love being behind the scenes, ensuring projects stay on track and don’t fall apart (at least on paper)!

Of course, there are challenges. When I say ‘I work in construction,’ I often get surprised looks. The stereotype of swinging hammers or driving forklifts isn’t the whole picture. From project coordination to quality management, women like me play a crucial role in every aspect. And yes, some days I do rock the high-vis and hard hat look!

Contrary to another misconception, my passion is not interiors. I thrive in design meetings and relish the technical aspects of MEP systems—understanding how things work, from installation to maintenance, is my forte. I’m known for asking the ‘obvious’ questions and constantly advancing my skills.

The best part? Every day is different. From solving on-site challenges to seeing projects come to life, my role at Hopkins is both rewarding and dynamic. I bring efficiency, organisation and proactive communication to the table, qualities that are appreciated in a male dominated field.

As a woman in construction, I bring a collaborative approach and strong empathy. I unite teams towards a shared vision, integrating diverse perspectives to solve problems holistically. My proudest moments? Seeing ideas evolve into thriving spaces that benefit communities—knowing I had a hand in that process is incredibly fulfilling.

To any woman considering a career in construction: 𝗗𝗼 𝗶𝘁! Don’t let stereotypes or intimidation hold you back. Find a supportive employer like Hopkins who values your growth and empowers you to excel. Consider apprenticeships—they open doors to limitless opportunities.

The world is literally your oyster! 𝗚𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘀! 💪👷‍♀️”

#WomenInConstruction #WICWeek2025 #Hopkins #EmpoweringWomen #Celebration