WINS was formed to create an opportunity for women involved in the natural stone industry and wider architectural and construction sectors to connect, as well as being role models to encourage the next generation of women into construction.
Since its creation, WINS has hosted networking events across the UK, including London, Bath, Leeds and Manchester. The group has also launched a mentoring programme which was developed to help connect women in the earlier years of their careers in the industry with women who have more experience and can offer guidance and advice.
WINS is open to any woman working in the worlds of natural stone, architecture and construction. To add your name to our mailing list, please email sara@stonefed.org.uk.
Networking Events
Networking has also been at the heart of WINS, and since its creation, and across our various gatherings, the group has brought together 200+ women from the natural stone, architectural and construction sectors.
Mentoring Programme
Launched on International Women’s Day 2022, the Women In Natural Stone Mentoring Programme is open to any female in the natural stone sector.
It has been developed to help connect women in the earlier years of their careers in the industry with women who have more experience and can offer guidance and advice.
Once Stone Federation has received an application from someone wanting to be mentored, the applicant will be matched with a mentor and an introductory email sent.
From there it will be up to the mentor and the person being mentored to arrange their first meeting, in person or online as they see fit.
Some ice-breaker questions will be suggested to ease the flow of conversation, but it is up to the people involved whether they use these or take an alternative approach. The scheme is very much geared to the requirements of those involved and is not prescriptive.
Both the mentor and the person being mentored will be asked to commit to an initial six-month connection, although it will not be binding and if either party feels it is not working out can end the arrangement at any time.
During the first six months, the mentor and the person being mentored are expected to meet at least twice, either in person or online, and should be prepared to communicate by email and/or phone at least once a month.
The mentors come from across the natural stone, architectural and construction sectors. All the mentors are experienced in their professions and well-placed to support and encourage those who want to further their careers.
As well as WINS co-Chairs Becca Cranfield and Tamsin Pickeral, the mentors are: Miranda McCabe, an Associate at Purcell; Iris Chan, Supply Chain Manager at Multiplex; Valerie Bergeron, Director of Business Development Europe at Polycor; Regina Vitorio, Chair of LSI Stone; Nicky Rance, Project Director at Sir Robert McAlpine; Jane Buxey, Chief Executive of Stone Federation; Lisa Nunn, Senior Geologist at FNDC; Lyndsey Gallagher, COO at Gallagher Group; Maria Amparo Asenjo, Associate Director of Mace.
If any other woman would like to volunteer as a mentor, they should contact Sara by email at sara@stonefed.org.uk to express their interest.
