Petra Letang-Laudat is carving out a new career in construction thanks to the Women into Home Building programme.

The former actor – who enjoyed a successful career spanning more than 20 years across TV,  stage and radio, including nearly three years as nurse Naomi Julien in EastEnders – is now working as a trainee assistant site manager for us in London.

Grief at the loss of her mum in 2018 led Petra to reflect on her life, while the renovation of the family home and a rental flat she inherited from her mum sparked her creative interest in design and construction.

It was this interest that led her to sign up in 2023 for a six-week employability programme run by Women into Construction and the Home Builders Federation.

After spending the best part of a year job-hunting for a role which would fit around her life as a busy mum-of-two, she was then offered a two-week placement through the Women into Home Building programme and in August 2024 started a two-year apprenticeship with us. 

Petra said: “I used to say I couldn’t see myself doing anything else other than acting. I don’t enjoy sitting behind a desk – I need something creative. I
absolutely did not imagine in my wildest dreams that this was what I would end up doing, but in the process of renovating our family home there was this kind of buzz that sparked my interest and excitement. I had this kind of epiphany where I realised there was something else I really enjoy and I could do.

“I started in EastEnders in 2005 and it was one of those jobs where I felt like I’d arrived. I grew up watching EastEnders as a child and I had to pinch myself it was real.

“After EastEnders I worked in TV, theatre and radio. I was very happy and quite successful in my acting career. I never thought I’d get to a point where I didn’t want to do it anymore. It certainly wasn’t an overnight decision, as after losing my mum I did two plays in the West End.

“But I was dealing with so much grief and loss, I realised I didn’t want the pressure of what’s the next step, the next performance, the next character. I had lost the spark and the drive and the excitement of being a professional actor. I’d been acting for over 20 years and I’d done so much. It was draining. In reality, life is so short. I wanted the spotlight not to be on me for a while – I didn’t want the attention. I felt my light had dimmed.”

Once Petra had realised that her interest lay in construction, the path towards employment was not initially straightforward. Living in London with her husband and two daughters, now aged six and 12, she could only consider jobs within reasonable commuting distance of home.

She said: “It wasn’t easy and I’ve had to be determined. As much as it’s an industry where you can grow and flourish, you have to really want it to succeed.”

Fast forward to June last year, and Petra completed a two-week paid placement, which was followed by the offer of an apprenticeship. This includes one day a week of online study with the National House Building Council (NHBC) towards an NVQ Level 4 in Site Management Supervision.

It is a world away from a life on stage or on TV, but this is something that Petra is appreciating.

She said: “It’s a completely different world and so far removed from what I used to do. I’m enjoying going back to having that feeling of being anonymous rather than the centre of attention. There’s something nice about just being normal and not always talking about what your last job was and what your next job will be. Work is literally just getting on with it.

“I didn’t think I would enjoy the study days as much as I have and once I’ve become an assistant site manager, I’d be interested in getting my Level 6 at some point to get my Site Manager qualification and work my way up. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

For more details about careers at Bellway, visit our dedicated page.