Ipswich businesswoman Clare Friel has been shortlisted for an Unsung Hero award by the National Federation of Builders.
The prestigious Top 100 Women in Construction Awards are designed to showcase and support women’s significant role in a sector that is wrongly regarded as male-dominated.
Clare, who runs Friel, a marketing and business development consultancy in Ipswich which predominantly operates within the construction sector, has a passion for the construction industry going back many years. Having previously worked for a construction company before starting her own ventures.
As well as working with clients in the sector, she organises the Suffolk Property Drinks networking meetings and is a co-founder of Construction Anglia, which showcases construction news in the region. She is also a big advocate for encouraging women into the industry and regularly engages with schools and colleges to facilitate careers talks.
Clare is down to the final three in the Eastern region Unsung Hero category of the awards, with the winners being announced at a glittering ceremony in Manchester in October.
“I’m thrilled to be shortlisted for this award,” explained Clare. “It’s so rewarding to get recognition from an industry I love and have worked in for over a decade”
“The construction sector has so much to be proud about, and I take enormous pleasure in promoting the sector, the companies within it, and connecting people within the industry.”
The judges of the NFB awards drew up the shortlist of influential women by considering a strict list of criteria, including achievements, potential, leadership skills and genuine influence in business.
Winners of the various categories (unsung heroes, allies, ones to watch, plus client, designer and contractor influencers) will be added to the official Top 100 Influential Women in Construction.