Vivalda heralds a bright future for women in construction.

Specialist façade supplier, Vivalda Group, says it is leading the construction sector when it comes to helping women break through the industry’s ‘glass ceiling’. Boasting an operational management team of mostly women (58%), the UK’s largest independent provider of complex cladding solutions counts seven women among its senior team of 12 managers.

Jade Lawlor, branch manager at Vivalda’s Birmingham office said: “I began working at Vivalda in the sales team three years ago and really enjoyed the challenge of the role. Last year I was promoted to branch manager, which was a huge confidence boost. Sure, the construction industry still has a bit of a macho reputation, but that’s definitely changing. These days, we’re much more likely to solve problems by working together as a team, irrespective of gender.”

Peter Johnson, founder and chairman of Vivalda Group, said: “While we have not resorted to quotas or anti-discriminatory policies, we seem to be doing something right in attracting and retaining good talent from both genders. We try to be flexible and understanding when it comes to timekeeping and understand that there will always be times when people may need to arrive late or leave early to see to issues at home. We find that fostering an inclusive, supportive culture is good for morale and also good for business.”