Haines looks back on 50 years with Elliotts

Lauren Haines, director at Southampton-based Elliotts Builders Merchants is celebrating 50 years in the building industry, having joined the family-run company in December 1973.

Starting work as a typist in the brick department at a time when typing pools, stenciling price sheets by hand and making phone calls from a phone box were the norm, Haines moved onto a sales role in the brick office when one became available. She says: “Because I was typing a lot about bricks etc. it was interesting to understand what was happening and learn about the products.  There was an opening to work in the brick office and I put myself forward for the job. The director at the time thought I’d be too quiet for the role, but I was given the opportunity, and the rest is history.”

Haines went on to revamp and manage Elliotts’ brick library, the biggest on the South coast, before managing the sales office, becoming the first female to be appointed Director in the early 2000s.

She adds: “When I was running the brick library in the 80’s, it was quite noticeable at that time that being a woman in the industry was tough. Anyone coming into the brick library would automatically go to the guys, who were actually my apprentices. As a woman, you had to push to be given the chance. You had to be better and work harder than some of the men to be taken seriously. It showed in being involved with customers, architects etc. – you only had one chance. If you could help them, then you’d won. You just had to be just that little bit better – you had to prove that you knew what you were talking about. Elliotts has been very supportive over the last 50 years. I’ve done well through the support of the company and through working hard and wanting to do it.”

In Haines’ time at Elliotts the company has grown from two to 13 branches, though she says the biggest changes she has seen over the last 50 years are with technology and how we work.  She says: “Technology is definitely the biggest change I’ve seen, and it can be hard to keep up with. I remember when we first got computers and we (the directors) put ourselves on an evening course. We really engaged in it, and I’m glad that we did. You can’t slip backwards, you have to move forwards. Covid-19 has definitely changed how we engage. Time wise, you can have much quicker meeting via Teams, but you can’t replace face to face. Everyone has been wanting to get back to face to face. I don’t feel that there are as many barriers now [for women entering the construction industry]. If you want the opportunity, it is there.  Some women will have a career gap to have a family – so you want to work for a company that will support you. We’ve had a lot of change at Elliotts in the past few years, including more flexible working and enhanced company maternity pay. It makes a big difference in being able to retain and attract fantastic women to the business.”

Although she has 50 years of work under her belt, Haines says she has no plans to give up work any time soon. “I’m still enjoying it, I wouldn’t be at Elliotts if I didn’t. I know I can’t work forever, but I have no plans to retire.”

BMJ talked to Haines when she celebrated her 45 years in the industry. Catch up with the article here