International Womens Day 2026
International Women’s Day often comes with big statements about progress. But sometimes the most powerful stories are the quieter ones – the ones happening every day on site.
In our painting and decorating teams, there are women who’ve built their careers brushstroke by brushstroke, often in spaces where they weren’t expected to be.
Corinne has been in the trade since she was 16, learning the ropes alongside her stepfather and later working with her mum – also a decorator. She remembers a time when she had to work twice as hard to prove she belonged. What’s helped her through is belief in her own ability and building a strong circle of women around her who support one another.
Janay started as an apprentice six years ago and is now fully qualified in her trade. She will talk about the pride that comes from learning a skill properly and doing work you can stand back and admire at the end of the day.
For Lauren and Toni, painting runs in the family. Lauren grew up watching her dad work and now has her sister as a mentor. Toni followed the example of her sister-in-law and is learning the trade with her support alongside her. Both talk about the importance of having someone in your corner when you’re starting out.
Liz’s path was very different. After experiencing homelessness, she took the opportunity to train through a charity programme and found a chance to rebuild. She now works in a team of women who support each other and take huge pride in the standard of their work.
Sarah has spent more than twenty years as a painter and remembers what it felt like to start out without much support. Now she’s seeing more women come through, more mentors on site, and more voices being heard.
Alison, with over three decades of experience, says that in this trade respect often comes down to the quality of your work. Show what you can do, do it well, and people take notice.
What connects all of these stories is pride – pride in the trade, pride in the finished job, and pride in the teams they work alongside. The kind of pride that lifts standards, supports colleagues and strengthens communities where we work.
These women aren’t defined by being “women in construction”. They’re decorators, mentors, apprentices and teammates who are helping push the industry forward.
If their stories resonate with you and you’re interested in joining our team or exploring opportunities in the trade, you can find our current roles here: BELL GROUP Careers and Employment | Indeed.com
