More women urged to join the trade to help solve growing job crisis

BRITAIN’S youngest female crane operator last night urged more women to join the building trade to help solve a growing jobs crisis.

Casey Elsby, 22, said there was “absolutely no reason” why women wanting to join the trade shouldn’t “go for it”.

It comes ahead of UK Construction Week in October, an event at Birmingham’s NEC, which will address the dire skills shortage.

An estimated 250,000 extra builders are needed in the UK in the next five years.

Casey, from Cambridge, said: “The more and more people see it’s happening and that anyone can do it, the more normal it becomes.

“I’m 5ft 5ins. I’m this tiny thing that climbs up a crane.

"I do get some looks like, ‘What the hell is she doing?’, but as soon as they see me driving, everyone’s quite happy with me doing it.”

She started training last year and now works for construction giant LAING O’ROURKE.

Casey added: “At college I was the only female on campus. I’m the only girl in the yard as well.

“I’m not your average crane driver, but I will be just as good as the rest of them.”

UK Construction Week aims to overhaul the industry’s image.

Director Nathan Garnett said it is “such a vital part of our economy”, contributing £103billion to the UK.