International Women’s Day is back on the 8th March 2022 and celebrates women across the world. This year the theme is #BreakTheBias.

We’ve got so many amazing women across Norfolk doing incredible things so we’re celebrating them across the month of March. We’ve also got some inspirational women who work within Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, and we're shining the light on them too.

We asked Norfolk Chamber Member, Kelly Cartwright, Owner and Director of Jark Norfolk Ltd a few questions...

Why is supporting women in business so important?

I am one of a kind, a natural disruptor who wants to make a difference and inspire other women within the construction industry. I want to build a legacy, where I make a difference to our industry and inspire other young women to break the status quo, and understand that with the right drive, talent and ambition, you can succeed. Being successful is about smashing through glass ceiling after glass ceiling and knowing that nothing is off-limits. Be brave, let the hellraiser in you show through sometimes because the rewards are phenomenal if you can follow your dreams. I don't want to look back and think I could have made a difference and broken the typical gender issues and wish I had done something about it

What do you or your business do to support women in your teams?

Within business ultimately it is about growing a business, generating turnover, and increasing net profit year on year. But that isn’t everything, for me, it’s about people. The team, the opportunities I have given them, the changes they have made to their life because they have opportunities for progression and earnings. They are not judged on gender, their skills and ability is what is important, no matter what gender, ethnicity, and background they are. We want to inspire others, I have just begun working with local schools, to encourage other young women and stop out those gender stereotypes. Nothing was told to me at school about having these big aspirations, that you can do it, with the right attitude and determination coupled up with a bit of flair – but I want others to be successful.

What skills do you feel are the biggest asset that women have in the workplace?

A diverse workplace is an asset to any industry. Having a more gender-balanced work environment is a huge benefit to roles that include problem-solving, and having a more diverse staff will result in broader ideas and approaches to problems. Women and men can think differently, so companies will benefit from having fresh approaches and different strategies. As well as added perspectives, a diverse workforce can also increase creativity and productivity. From a brand point of view, a more equal gender balance will have a positive impact on a company’s reputation. This is especially true for construction companies where the industry is typically lagging when it comes to gender-balanced working environments.

What challenges do women face in the workplace that are different to men?

I look upon being a woman in the construction industry in two ways. On the one hand, the reality is that you don’t get many young females in senior business positions striding onto building sites in their hard hats and hi-vis jackets. So I totally understand that there’s an element of trailblazing, hopefully for other young women to feel they can do the same as me. But on the other hand, I totally agree with Deborah Meaden from Dragons’ Den who said in an interview she doesn’t want to be thought of as a ‘woman in business’ because it automatically makes an issue of her gender. She said she was simply ‘in business’ and that’s all that mattered. While it is important for women to be seen to be getting ahead in business, I think ultimately most of us would just like to get to the stage where gender is no more taken into account than shoe size.

What advice would you give to male colleagues to support women in the workplace?

It's simple.. respect, support and develop that person because of their ability. Not the gender.

What top tips would you give your younger self when it comes to business?

One of the hardest things for any entrepreneur is cutting through the noise and being able to focus on why they got into business in the first place. Everyone has an opinion, but in business, I’ve learned you need to learn which opinions are worth listening to and which aren’t. I’ve noticed that the more successful you are, the more forceful and vocal people are with their opinions. And I’ve realised that the sad truth is that there are plenty of people who want to see you fail. These are people who may feel threatened by you, or maybe people who you thought were friends and good contacts. They will find fault with anything and everything to put you and your business down. You can buckle under the pressure and cry yourself to sleep at night or you can use it as motivation, and as confirmation that you are actually doing something very right. In fact, criticism has been the making of me. Maybe that’s because I’m competitive, maybe that’s because I’m naturally determined, but it has helped me develop resilience and the ability to stay above those who are determined to drag me down. The best advice I can offer is to remember to treat any negativity that comes your way as a challenge, that if you can shrug it off, and carry on regardless, it will make you a better entrepreneur, and a better person. And it is worth remembering that because you have actually achieved something, gone out there, and shaken the status quo, you are always likely to have upset or unsettled someone. That’s business, it is competitive, and you have to expect these things. You get used to it.

Jark Norfolk Ltd