Leaving policing after 18 years to build a new career. Laura Parry spent 18 years as a police station reception officer before retraining as a Safety, Health, Environment and Quality (SHEQ) Advisor at FM Conway, proving it’s never too late for a career change.
Overview
- Laura Parry spent 18 years as a Metropolitan Police Station Reception Officer before choosing a new career in construction.
- She joined FM Conway as a Customer Care Advisor, then moved into SHEQ.
- She completed her NEBOSH qualification while working full-time and raising two children.
- She’s now a SHEQ Advisor at FM Conway, and says her policing experience transferred more than she expected.
Laura Parry spent 18 years as a Station Reception Officer with the Metropolitan Police Service, often the first person a member of the public turned to when they needed help. As a working mother, she raised two children, and for a long time her focus sat squarely on family life and shift patterns. As her children grew more independent, she started to wonder what else she could achieve professionally, and wanted to show them that it’s never too late to learn something new. Today, she is a SHEQ Advisor at FM Conway, having retrained and passed her NEBOSH qualification. It is a career she had never considered, in an industry she knew nothing about.
A new start at FM Conway
Laura joined FM Conway as a Customer Care Advisor, drawn by a company that seemed genuinely willing to invest in its people. She says:
“What attracted me was the opportunity to learn something completely new and build a different career. I liked the fact that the company was willing to invest in employees and support them in reaching their potential.”
The role gave her a first look at the construction industry, and the chance to work alongside teams she would never have met in policing, including FM Conway’s SHEQ team.
“My manager was incredibly supportive and gave me the confidence to challenge myself and think about where my career could go next.”
Finding SHEQ
The more Laura learned about SHEQ, the more it looked like a natural fit. The role centred on people and safety, the same things she had spent 18 years focused on in policing.
“The Trainee SHEQ Advisor role really interested me because it focused on people, safety and supporting others, which are all things I’d done throughout my career. Although I didn’t come from a construction background, I realised many of my skills were transferable.”
That did not make the decision easy.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. Moving into a completely different industry after 18 years was daunting, and there were moments when I questioned whether I was making the right decision.”
Curious what else FM Conway offers women considering a career change?
Studying for NEBOSH while working full-time
Laura completed her NEBOSH qualification while working full-time and raising her two children.
“Balancing a full-time job, studying and family life meant there were plenty of evenings and weekends spent revising or completing coursework. There were moments when it felt overwhelming, particularly as I was learning something completely new.”
Passing the qualification became one of her proudest achievements.
“It showed me that it’s never too late to learn new skills and invest in yourself, no matter what stage of life you’re at.”
Advice for women weighing up a change
Laura is direct with women who assume a construction career is out of reach without industry experience.
“Don’t rule yourself out. A lot of women look at construction and assume they need years of industry experience, but that’s not always the case. Many of the skills employers are looking for, like communication, organisation, problem-solving and teamwork, can be gained in lots of different careers.”
Her advice extends to anyone considering a major change later in life.
“Believe in yourself and don’t let age put you off. Your experience doesn’t disappear just because you’re moving into a new industry. You bring valuable skills, knowledge and life experience with you.”
For Laura, the decision paid off. She built a new career in an industry she never expected to join, and showed her children that starting again is possible at any age.
