AN Advance Construction dumper truck driver will fly the flag for Scotland in Manchester this October at the final of the National Federation of Builders Top 100 Influential Women in Construction Awards.
Elivia Martin has been shortlisted for the Unsung Hero Category representing Scotland. She joins her colleague Lynsey Breen, head of acquisitions at Advance Land Regeneration, in being nominated in the category and Aiden Walusiak, a building inspector for the National House Building Council.
Elivia, from Bathgate, joined Advance on the Government’s Kickstart Scheme in April this year. Aimed at helping people aged 16-24 on Universal Credit who were at risk of long-term unemployment, Elivia was facing an uncertain future after losing her job during the pandemic.
She said, “It was really tough during lockdown, I was stuck in the house all the time and had to borrow money from family and friends just to keep going. When this opportunity came along I jumped at it.
“I first started doing handy-man jobs when I was 14 and I realised I was good at it and started working in construction full-time at 18. Although I am the only woman on site it doesn’t bother me, everyone is really nice, and I definitely think that girls should think about construction as a career. There are so many different trades you can learn.”
Elivia’s next goal is to pass her driving test, so that she can drive trucks from site-to-site as she requires a full UK driving licence.
The final of the awards will take place on 27 October at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester.
