Business Fit Magazine Special Editions Mother & Daughter Special Edition | Page 24

England
When I married my husband at the age of 19
and had my first daughter aged 20, all my friends
thought I was either a lost cause or mad….well, it
turns out they were wrong.
At the age of 16 I dropped out of sixth form,
attended College to complete a Health and
Beauty course for two years, then went on to
teach the subject after completing my FE teaching
grades and assessors awards. Shortly after I got
married, had two daughters, Amelia and Jessica.
One year after having my daughters (now 12
and 9) I joined the family construction business
as part of the admin staff, orchestrating training
requirements which enabled me to work around
pre-school hours.
Once both girls were settled at school a few years
later, I began to delve into the business, into the
contracts, into the legalities and into the day to
day management. I shadowed every department
and listened intently to opinions on what works
and what doesn’t. I threw myself into the ever-
growing safety market, which was taking the
industry by storm and started to grow a culture
that is now firmly in place.
Being a
Mother
and working in a male
dominated industry
Nicola Bird
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A couple of years later when I had established
a belonging within the firm and had now taken
control of a department, I felt like I had to prove
myself to others so decided to undertake a
master’s degree at the University of South Wales,
part time for three years. For someone who didn’t
particularly enjoy school, this was no easy feat.
But I did it. I passed with a merit and my family,
including my two girls came to my graduation.
As a family member of the business, you don’t
just get one role, you get a bit of everything. I help
the marketing and sales team within our Homes
division, I aid HR with dismissals, entertain clients
on every race and rugby day as well as conducting
a safe workforce of now 500 personnel.
My daughters both attend an independent
school an hour from our house. Boarding was
never an option as I simply couldn’t get through
the week without seeing them and vice versa.
They get up at 6am, ready for the bus at 7am and
return home at 5.45pm, so my working hours
are covered. They have week day matches every
Wednesday which I make every effort to attend
(I’m the annoying mum that stands on the side-
line shouting and cheering them on!). My phone
is switched off, and that hour is theirs.
My mum will also make every effort to attend
plays/matches or other events that I cannot
make and is my rock.
My eldest daughter is in Year 8, ready to move
school again. She has two entrance exams to
sit in the new year and although she tries her
very hardest at school, learning does not come
naturally easy. Many-a-night, we sit at the table
after dinner working through homework or
assignments that need to be submitted and will
soon be doing the same for exam revision.
I am very lucky in the fact that my daughters are
very easy going, whilst they have their everyday
fights and bickering, they help around the house,
feed the animals and will help with the cooking.
We work together as a unit which helps the ship
stay afloat.
I am very lucky
in the fact that
my daughters are
very easy going
Being in a family business also has its benefits,
one being my very supportive family who allow
me to work the hours I need to, but also allow
me to flex my hours when the girls need me the
most.
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