BPC sponsors Overbury’s International Women’s Day seminar

BPC is proud to have sponsored an inspiring International Women’s Day seminar, hosted by Overbury. Taking place on Wednesday 9th March at No 6 Alie Street, Whitechapel, the event not only attracted dozens of attendees, but also raised much-needed funds for The Maya Centre, a community-based charity that provides free mental health and wellbeing services to women on low incomes.

Our Business Support Manager Marie Kemp attended the seminar and found it positive, uplifting and thought-provoking. “One of the main things I took away from the evening,” she says, “is that women are still trying to #breakthebias and change the face of our industry, helped by organisations such as Women Into Construction – the not-for-profit that promotes gender equality”.

The first speaker was National Bodybuilder World Champion Michelle Lawrence. A single mum who had suffered from depression, she told the story of how she embarked on her fitness journey and turned her life around – and became a strong role model for her child. She was followed by Laura Collins, a Project Director for Stanhope and former WICE Quantity Surveyor of the Year, who spoke of her experience as a lone parent and carving out a career in a male-dominated industry. Movingly she talked of the constant feelings of guilt women often experience when they believe they aren’t giving either their child or their career the focus and attention they need.

Laura was followed by Nic Evans, an experienced PE teacher and coach for a gay rugby team. She’s one of only a handful of female, level 4 rugby coaches in the world and is still striving to get women recognised and respected in a very male-dominated sport. As Marie says, “Nic smashed through the stereotypes from all angles!”

BPC is proud to have played a part in making this valuable event such a success. “Gender stereotyping is still a massive issue,” Marie adds, “but the more we strive for change the more progress we’ll make each and every day.”