Traditionally, construction has been viewed as a male dominated industry but at Somerville Shopfitting Ltd we are proud to play our part in changing this perception.

At Somerville, we possess a strong team of women who perform key roles throughout the company, ranging from Site Management and Health & Safety to Global Project Management and Professional Services.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, we have focused on some of our team members, shining the spotlight on them and highlight the integral role they play in the company.

Kicking off our celebration of International Women’s Day is Site Manager, Cara Norman.

Cara completed a BSc (Hons) in Construction engineering and Management at Ulster University and joined Somerville in 2018 as an Operations Assistant. She was mentored at various stages over the past 2 years by our Senior Quantity Surveyor and Contracts Managers and has been recently promoted to the role of Site Manager. She is currently in charge of the day to day running of a multi-floor fit-out project for an international client in Belfast City Centre. Cara manages a variety of teams ranging from operatives, subcontractors as well as dealing with suppliers and the client daily.

Claire started with Somerville in an administrative role in 2015. Over the last 5 years, her career within the company has seen an upward trajectory so much so, she is now a key Project Manager within Somerville. Claire oversees projects in retail stores across the EMEIA and Asia Pacific regions, for a major client. She manages financial budgets, client relationships, suppliers, and co-ordinates the work of employees and subcontractors.

Emma is our Health & Safety Manager and looks after all HSE matters across the company. She is currently chair of the Northern Ireland Institution of Occupational Safety & Health, demonstrating that she is passionate about health and safety both personally and professionally. Over the past 3 years Emma has worked to improve health and safety standards here at Somerville, with a huge company drive in occupational health. Emma brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team.

Claire is a qualified architect who has been part of the Somerville team for over 2 years now. Her role involves liaising with clients and designers in the development of construction and manufacturing drawings, from concept through to design stage. With over 18 years’ experience, specialising in bespoke joinery and furniture design, Claire ensures the very best quality and attention to detail with every project undertaken.