The event was attended by team members from the businesses supply chain and logistics, customer service, health and safety and cement plant teams. It included a wide range of discussion topics and presentations, from PPE and welfare facilities to profiling role models and opportunities to attract more women to pursue careers at Tarmac and in the wider construction industry.
Commenting on the event Mike Eberlin, director of Tarmac’s Cement and Lime business and sponsor of the Women in Cement group, said: “The first meeting of our Women in Cement group has been a real success. It’s great to celebrate the many achievements and successes of women working in our business, as well as discuss initiatives and opportunities for encouraging more people to join our exciting industry.”
Johanna O’Driscoll, Tarmac’s finance director, gave a presentation on the role the group has in supporting the wider diversity and inclusion work across Tarmac. She said: “It has been fantastic to bring together colleagues from across the business to share their experiences and continue our work to collaborate and drive positive change. We’re looking forward to building and broadening activities across Tarmac and continuing to encourage people from all age groups, genders nationalities and ethnicities to be part of the debate and help to define opportunities for development and progress.
The new Women in Cement group is one of a number of diversity and inclusion initiatives across Tarmac. The company has partnered with organisations including the Taylor Bennett Foundation, Skillforce and the Career Transition Partnership which all focus on supporting people from diverse backgrounds into jobs.
Josie Morrissey, environmental coordinator in Tarmac’s Cement and Lime business, regularly represents Tarmac at STEM events and school visits. She said: “I’m extremely proud with how this first event went and it’s very exciting to see the interest and engagement we’ve got from all areas and levels of the business. It’s really pleasing to have support from the most senior level and I know that our efforts across the whole of Tarmac will help us address some important industry issues.”
