By sharing their stories and amplifying their voices, the staff are paving the way for an even more inclusive industry.

Women in construction are breaking barriers, driving change, and shaping the future of the industry. Their voices and experiences prove that progress is happening - but there’s still more to be done.

This International Women’s Day (Saturday 8 March), British Gypsum and Isover - businesses that are part of Saint-Gobain Interior Solutions - are proudly celebrating the women who are making an impact in the construction sector. By sharing their stories, they are championing their achievements, amplifying their voices, and paving the way for an even more inclusive industry.

Katie Anderson is Performance Manager at British Gypsum East Leake Works which produces bagged plaster and plasterboard. She has seen the business take proactive steps to help more women into its workforce. “We have got a lot more women coming through which is great,” she said. “It will take a while to change but I definitely see positive movement in that regard.”

Anderson joined British Gypsum in 2019 as a project leader and has progressed rapidly through the ranks. She is encouraging other women to consider construction manufacturing as a fulfilling career. “British Gypsum has really helped me with my training,” she added. “So even if you don’t have the skills initially, it can help you to develop those skills.”

However, Anderson says she still occasionally encounters gender bias. She said: “Sometimes it can take a bit more time to build up a rapport or respect with people, it’s important to get to know people as individuals and learn to communicate with them in the most appropriate way.”

Last year, Saint-Gobain Interior Solutions supported the launch of I am a Housebuilder. Founded by a cross-parliamentary group, it aims to grow the number of women working in the housebuilding industry. It is fronted by seven women who hold prominent roles in construction - dubbed the Magnificent 7.

One of them is Xuan Meng, CEO of Cozy Haus. She started in property development after taking maternity leave from an investment fund.

“It took me a lot of effort and mental determination to plunge myself into building Cozy Haus because it is something I’ve never done,” she said. “I thought to myself, if I could make this a success, it could give me the flexibility to be my own boss and also the flexibility to look after my daughter and the financial stability I wanted for my family. This was my chance, I took it, and I think that it was the best decision I ever made.”

Cozy Haus now employs over 30 people and has more female staff than male. “I think that 60% of our staff members are female and a lot of them are single mums,” added Meng.

“I believe that, because you are a mum, you have more reasons to work hard not only because you have to provide financially but also because you have to lead by example.”

As part of their mentoring programme, each of the Magnificent 7 will give one-to-one mentoring to women taking their first steps into the housebuilding sector.

Georgina Hammond, Co-Founder of Beau Property, has taken 21-year-old graduate Abbi Bird under her wing as her mentee. Bird saw the Magnificent 7 announced on LinkedIn and reached out to them about mentorship.

She first became interested in construction aged 13 when her dad asked her to help with a building project. As a teenager she relentlessly pursued her passion, even switching schools to study construction and engineering before going on to complete a university degree. She is now shadowing Hammond while looking to start her career in construction management.

“I really want to help her to navigate her career, to grow within her next role and be able to set goals for what her career is going to look like,” said Hammond. “I hope that she achieves becoming an MD of a PLC housebuilder because I know that she’s got it in her. She’s incredibly determined, she’s so enthusiastic, and she loves building houses. She’s incredibly technically minded.

“It is so amazing and encouraging that people from that next generation have the enthusiasm and want to get into this industry because they feel so passionately about it and love it. So, I think from Abbi’s perspective, the sky is the limit and she can achieve anything.

“Women need this support in an industry that is male dominated. I think that if we had this conversation again in ten years’ time, that would look very different. But while we go through that transition period, there needs to be role models and support for women that are making the move to enter this industry, to help them thrive.”

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is Accelerate Action, focusing on driving progress for gender equality.

Rachel Kelly, Head of Brand for British Gypsum and Isover, said: “We are proud to support International Women’s Day and are accelerating our efforts to bring talented women into our workforce.

“Women remain underrepresented in construction, facing barriers such as gender bias, lack of career visibility, and limited opportunities for progression. We are committed to addressing these challenges by amplifying female voices, promoting inclusivity and providing pathways for women to thrive in the sector.”

The Building Better Hub provides resources and talking points on workforce gender diversity and other major industry issues. To hear more from some of the industry leaders featured in this article or to discover more about what women in construction have to say, visit the Building Better hub: https://www.saint-gobain.co.uk/building-better-hub/.

 

ENDS