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You don't have to tell Suzy Fisher there are not many women in the construction industry. Usually when she turns up to a construction site, she's the only woman there.
Suzy started Virgin Concrete ready mix business with her brother Richard and father Dick after a conversation they had. Her father owned the neighbouring Avon Industries, local manufacturing, galvanising iron, and had some spare land they agreed to put a concrete plant on, despite having no experience in the industry.
Today she runs a busy team of 16 staff and 13 trucks in a distinctly male-dominated industry.
"You've got to be ready to be 'out there', you have to be confident and bold," she says.
"Looking back it was an incredibly bold move. We started seven years ago, which was right in the middle of the financial slump. We pretty much went at it with the attitude that we were going to build it and get going."
Suzy says that like many business owners, she learned the business on the job.
"I'm totally hands on. It was a steep learning curve, but good," she says.
"The key is to get a lot of good people behind you. I've found the best approach is to get the right people in place."
Suzy laughs when new people come into the office looking for the boss, and assume Suzy is the secretary.
"They might ask one of the guys here, but my guys will say, 'you'll have to talk to the boss.' Once you get past that though, it's all good. What matters is that I know what I'm talking about."
She attributes the success of her business to being honest, being on time, and delivering what she says she's going to deliver.
"Being on time is absolutely critical in our business, otherwise you are keeping workers on the construction site waiting. Once those workers are on site, they have to be paid, so the building company really needs the concrete truck to turn up on time."
Suzy says her Teletrac Navman system is an important tool in managing truck movements, particularly for big pours.
"A woman in the construction industry has to work smarter rather than compete on physical strength, so any tool that improves our efficiency is good to have."
Are there differences in leadership style between men and women? "Yes and no."
"The guys here say I am a bit different to having a man as a boss. The guys say I'm their boss, but also a counsellor and confidante. They are happy to tell me stuff that they wouldn't tell a man. It's important to be very approachable." She says developing a high-functioning, integrated team is critical.
And given the opportunity to give advice to her younger self? Suzy would say, "Start earlier!"
Suzy attributes her personal success to having the confidence to get started, then keeping up the momentum.
"Anyone can do it, you've just got to want to do it. You can do whatever you put your mind to."
Suzy says she has also had great mentors.
"The thing to remember is that everybody is out there for you. Anything you need to know, you just have to reach out and ask. I'm still learning every day."
To read the full case study about Virgin Concrete, please click here.