Melody Gowe
Melody’s journey into the construction industry has been filled with challenges as she bravely raised her three children on her own. Each step she has taken has brought her closer to discovering her true purpose
Initially, she embarked on her career with a degree in Biomedical Science, fuelled by a deep passion for understanding human anatomy, physiology, and the various diseases and treatments available to support health. However, her life took a significant turn when her youngest son was born prematurely at just 24 weeks, weighing a mere 1.6 pounds. He required constant care, including oxygen support for five years, heart surgery, physiotherapy, and countless hospital visits. Melody made the tough but selfless decision to step away from her career to care for him. Despite the challenges, she has no regrets; her family always came first.
To support her family during this difficult period, she took on various roles in healthcare, embracing any opportunity that came her way. However, after facing the numerous challenges posed by the COVID pandemic, she began to feel stuck and uncertain about her future. It was then that her work coach introduced her to the world of rail engineering. Taking a leap of faith, she completed a rail engineering course and started working as a Personal Track and Safety Operative and learnt that she loves hands-on work
She then discovered a pivotal opportunity through a women-focused initiative at South and City College in Bordesley Green, London, designed to encourage female participation in construction. After completing the program, Melody earned her place on the notorious High Speed Two project, where she has been working diligently as a traffic marshal for the past year with us at Reliable Contractors.
Notably, she is the first placement from the women in construction program with us, paving the way for many more women to follow in her footsteps. She has recently been offered a new role with us as a Health and Safety Advisor and has been nominated for the 2025 Women in Construction Awards for the Rising Star Award.
Melody identifies her biggest challenge as navigating the male-dominated nature of the industry. However, we at Reliable Contractors can confidently say that she has overcome this challenge brilliantly with her positive attitude, skill set, and admirable determination. On this subject, Melody states, “The industry has been traditionally male-dominated, and there were times when I felt overlooked and underestimated. I had to prove myself harder than others. But I stood my ground, earned respect by demonstrating my skills, and built strong relationships along the way. This journey has taught me the power of persistence, confidence, and most importantly, how we can challenge stereotypes and make the industry more inclusive for women.”
Melody attended an HS2 implementation advisory group meeting at Solihull Council with our director, Lee McEvoy, to discuss the benefits of the HS2 project and its impact on the local community. Melody bravely spoke to the room about her experiences on the project, particularly regarding the BBV Women in Site-Based Roles program, and the positive effect it has had on her life. She shared her career journey within the project, which inspired those in attendance, and the minister noted on the positivity and inspiration of her story. The sessions’ recording and notes were published on the official Solihull Council website, serving as motivation for others in similar positions to join the industry.