Celebrating Women in KBB  

Yvonne Orgill has almost 40 years’ experience in the UK bathroom Industry and is well recognised as a leader and influencer.  She held the position of Chief Executive of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA) from 2006 to 2019.  Yvonne is currently MD at the Unified Water Label and a non-exec board member of BIKBBI, VP of CIPHE – Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineers, as well as first female chairperson of NHIC and the NHIC Trustees.

How did you start your career in the KBB sector? Did you face any challenges?

My career began in an administrative support role.  I loved the industry and was ambitious so invested in myself by taking on further study and gaining qualifications whilst I was working.

In the early days there was certainly a feeling that women were not able to take up senior roles but I proved them wrong with a commitment to my career, training and hard work.

Do you feel women are under-represented in the KBB industry?

I don’t think the KBB industry is any different to many others, with women being under represented in top roles. Things are changing but it takes time and the transition from all male boards and leaders to a more balanced one is slow. However, I am confident that we will see more women taking up top roles in the future.  There are more role models and young women have the confidence and expectations that they can reach their goals.

How would the KBB industry benefit from having more women in top roles?

All industries would benefit from having more women in top roles.  In my experience women generally approach matters differently, they often have a more holistic outlook and are more open to working around situations and finding solutions.

What advice would you give to women starting out in the industry?

Follow your dreams, everything is possible.  It does take commitment and there will be setbacks but stay on the path, don’t give up and take every opportunity that is offered. 

What do you believe is the biggest opportunity for growth in the KBB sector this year?

Sustainability will be key in 2024.  The boundaries of sustainability are being pushed even further with government looking at all aspects, not just reducing water waste in the home but also throughout the manufacturing process. The industry is facing tighter environmental aspects for home grown and imported products, which will ensure a level playing field.

It is likely to be a challenging year, making it more important for brands and retailers to differentiate their offering. With fewer consumers spending, capturing those that are able to purchase is key.

What can the sector do to encourage more women to join the industry?

The sector should adopt a more diverse approach. Offering both men and women the flexibility they need to build careers and maintain a quality family life.   Perceptions are changing but slowly, highlighting role models, and increased visibility for women is a great way to encourage change.

Amanda Hughes is the Ergonomics and aging expert at Blum UK. A professional chef, she has gone from working in commercial kitchens to helping design and consult on them in domestic settings. Working within the research and development team at Blum, she applies the findings and outcomes to help improve the quality of our living spaces for future generations.  A visiting lecturer, she regularly gives talks to UK universities and design students. A guest judge at the Royal Society of Arts and The KBB Birmingham innovation awards.

How did you start your career in the KBB sector? Did you face any challenges?

A 9 year veteran, I came to the KBB sector with no previous knowledge, but a huge passion for food, cooking and a love of people. The challenge for me early on in my career was understanding the complex route to market and the endless combination and collaboration of suppliers it takes to complete a single project in a domestic architecture setting. I came from a very male dominated industry in FMCG and was not surprised by the lack of diversity in key roles within KBB when I first joined. 9 years have certainly seen positive change and less gender bias and I see the willingness to support and increase diversity within the industry.

Do you feel women are under-represented in the KBB industry?

In short yes, we still have some work to do in creating a level playing field for all. It stems from an historical bias towards perceived male gender roles across the building and construction industry, we all need to work on changing these stereotypes and encouraging diversity from all quarters. Starting in the education sector and promoting KBB as a viable career will encourage more women to get involved.

How would the KBB industry benefit from having more women in top roles?

High performing teams are built on a tapestry of diversity, people from different backgrounds, genders, cultures and viewpoints strengthen the possible outcomes and encourage innovation and inspiration to thrive. More women in the key decision-making roles would only future proof the industry and bring new perspective.

What advice would you give to women starting out in the industry?

The diversity of roles within KBB means your career can change and adapt as your expertise and knowledge grows. You will need courage and conviction in yourself, don’t let thoughts of doubt creep in. Dare to try, make mistakes and just be open to new experiences.

What do you believe is the biggest opportunity for growth in the KBB sector this year?

It is my belief that designers should all be experts in universal design, accessible design and the impact an aging population will have on the homes we build. It should be an essential part of any design process and will be pivotal to the success of the industry.  Don’t leave it to a few experts we all need to get involved. Opportunities abound in assisted living and later living residential, or aging in place schemes, this will all strengthen your potential for picking up contracts in new markets.

What can the sector do to encourage more women to join the industry?

I would love to start a mentoring scheme for women coming into the industry, have a place to go for support and advice, give seminars at schools and design colleges, listen to talks from industry experts and feel supported by peers. I would encourage all employers within KBB to support the creation of such a network.

Also, I think we need to re-start the formal education conversation, work together to support apprenticeship schemes across the industry. Develop a formal qualification for Kitchen designers so it is seen as a valid career choice for women, and they can demonstrate a good level of competency to potential employers.

Diane Berry started in the kitchen business in 1980 and in 2002 opened her own studio, Diane Berry Kitchens. The company is now one of the most recognised brands in the industry with a team that now holds more design awards than any business in the UK.

How did you start your career in the KBB sector? Did you face any challenges?

I started my career in this industry because of my father, not because I wanted to be in the business or to work with him, as he was very strict, but because he offered me driving lessons and a car! I was sixteen and the idea of a car was too tempting and luckily for me my father could see I had a natural ability to design and I loved chatting to customers too. I worked super hard as my father was very much ‘start at the bottom and work your way up’, so I had to learn about plumbing, electrics, ventilation, bricks, mortar - you name it, I had to understand it. This was the foundation for a career I have always loved and I have never looked back.

I left working for my father when I was twenty one as I knew I had to grow my own style and spread my wings. This year I will be sixty and I feel honoured to have worked for my father as he had integrity, always aimed to do the best standard of work for his clients and believed in training young people to have a trade. I worked for several men after my father and it made me realise that he was a rare person and I feel he paved the way for a better, more ethical and design-focussed industry.

Do you feel women are under-represented in the KBB industry? How would the KBB industry benefit from having more women in top roles?

I think women are well represented these days and it is great to see the balance at grass roots level, what we seem to be missing is more women in senior roles in some of big brands. When I read the trade press it does still seem to be awash with ‘men in suits’! However I do believe that change is coming. Women bring a different outlook and can be much more challenging to a system, we seem to be braver and not afraid to say Why do you do it that way? Let’s try this instead.

What advice would you give to women starting out in the industry?

The advice I would offer women in this industry is learn it all, I have benefitted so much from being able to stand in a house and be able to chat about joist directions, the fall of a soil pipe, the difference between copper fitting and push fit, and so on. This knowledge has helped me win respect and achieve great results from onsite teams. So many times, I have had trades say it can’t be done and I always find a way! So, knowledge and keep asking questions - every day is a school day and I am still learning.

What do you believe is the biggest opportunity for growth in the KBB sector this year?

The growth area in this industry is the full service, we now take care of so much more than the kitchen – now it’s TV units, feature panelled walls, secret doors, walk in pantries, luxury wall covering, pendants, tiles and so on. Once a client knows our style, it is best for them if we take control and this allows us to create amazing spaces that have a theme throughout and reduces the stress for clients.

What can the sector do to encourage more women to join the industry?

To encourage more women in this industry we need a mindset change by men. Women bring another dimension, as we bring a different approach. Women shouldn’t be limited by the expectations men might have - we are expert multi-taskers and also super focused whilst at work. Customers both male and female love talking about their families, take this as an opportunity to make all your clients happy as diversity helps you choose a winning team for each client.