How Has The Safety Letterbox Company begun to tackle gender equality?
I was the only female in our 36-year-old manufacturing business for many years, now I’m delighted to say 23 years later I am one of 12. That’s almost 20% of our workforce.
We absolutely only employ people based on their capabilities, drive and passion and definitely not to make up the numbers -every applicant is treated as equal, regardless of gender or anything else. It’s the best person for the job – fact.
Do you have any advice for women who are looking to grow their success?
We need women to push through and to apply for roles – we can’t employ them if they are simply not there.
I am still in a tiny minority of female CEO’s in the very male dominated environment of Manufacturing in the UK and within Europe. It’s not unique to manufacturing, throughout my career in retail I was also in a very small minority of female Senior managers in the UK.
Is there a stereotype still there?
Its crazy to think I am still assumed to be a stereotypical female note taker in some meetings, I have been asked so many times if the boss is in, I have sat as the only female amongst a large group of men so many times I’ve lost count. That’s a deep-rooted mindset that has to change and until it does the stereotype will always be there.
What is your opinion on the future of workplace equality?
I hope that the next generation are brought up in an environment which is just about equality – in fact better still it shouldn’t even be mentioned and talked about- it should just be the norm.