Islington single mum drives 32-tonne tipper truck in makeup with nails done and ‘takes no sh*t’ from builders

When Christina Demetriou tells individuals what she does for a residing, a lot of them do not take her significantly. That’s as a result of the 31-year-old single mum from Islington works as a 32-tonne tipper truck driver whereas being, by her personal admission, ‘fairly girly’. “No one can ever consider it,” she instructed My London. “I put on makeup and get my nails done. At a development web site or in the membership males get confused. They are like: ‘What is happening?'” Christina spends her working days driving vehicles packed with combination to development websites round London and simply by listening to her discuss, you’ll be able to inform how a lot she enjoys it. READ MORE: The £19bn Crossrail fiasco – brazen sabotage, ‘hokey cokey’ work and the boys making thousands and thousands

Christina in her truck
(Image: Christina Demetriou)

“I really like this job,” she mentioned. “For me its’ one thing I’m enthusiastic about. I can meet new individuals and am by no means in the identical place, which is sweet, I do not like staying nonetheless. “The business is understaffed as effectively so I’ll at all times be capable to discover work.” She works in and round London from 6am-4pm daily. Christina mentioned: “I’ve a daughter so I don’t prefer to be away from right here for too lengthy. “She’s 11 occurring 21!” Construction is likely one of the most male-dominated industries in the UK with solely 13 per cent of the workforce made up by girls. Christina mentioned: “I don’t benefit from the fixed stigma about girls being truck drivers. You don’t at all times get handled the identical means. “I positively get handled otherwise. “Not all males after all however there are some that simply see girls as objects. “We pull as much as a web site and somebody says one thing an excessive amount of, it could actually make you are feeling remoted and uncomfortable.”

Christina all smiles behind the wheel
(Image: Christina Demetriou)

“I do meet different truck drivers. I attempt to advocate for ladies in development. “I’ve discovered to do what I do you need to be a sure sort of woman – resilient however with just a little little bit of grit about you. “Without that you simply received’t be capable to survive.” Islington born-and-bred, Christina is aware of London extraordinarily effectively because of all of the driving jobs she’s had. She mentioned: “I began off as a driving teacher however discovered it boring. “I knew I needed to be driving so I then grew to become a bus driver for 2 years. “From there I did neighborhood assist bus driving with Islington Council.

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“After that I needed a problem and so began driving for development.” She drives the capital delivering aggregates similar to sand, hardcore and ‘muck’ (soil). For different girls in becoming a member of the business Christina has one message – go for it. She mentioned: “I’d positively inform her to do it. Tell her to be assured and consider in herself. And not take sh*t from anybody. “If you don’t have faith you wont get anyplace, you’ll want to inform your self you are able to do it.” The firm Christina works for, RMS in Silvertown, is at the moment hiring. Women actually want apply. Do you could have a wierd job or stand out in your office for one purpose or one other? Please get in contact at [email protected]
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