# Women Entrepreneurship in the Construction Industry
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-04-01
Category: BUSINESS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business
Meta Title: Women in Construction: A Look at Victoria Brocklesby's
Meta Description: Discover Victoria Brocklesby's journey to becoming a disruptor in the construction industry, leading UK's top manufacturer of premium doors and windows.
URL: https://financedigest.com/women-entrepreneurship-in-the-construction-industryhtml

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_According to recent research from the Women in Construction Summit, just 11 percent of jobs within the construction sector are held by women. With this in mind, we wanted to get a clearer picture of women entrepreneurship within the industry, so we spoke to **Victoria Brocklesby**, COO and Co-Founder at_ [_Origin_](https://origin-global.com/) _,_ _the UK’s leading manufacturer of premium doors and windows_ _._

_Since co-founding Origin in 2002, Victoria has played an integral role in growing the company, establishing it as a disruptor within the market and an industry-leader, employing over 350 people, with operations in Dubai, the US, and throughout Europe._

_Here, she_ _explains how she started out and how her career progressed to where she is today._

**The Beginning**

When I was studying Physics and Space Science at the University of Southampton, I never would’ve thought that, once graduated, I would immediately move into a [role within the manufacturing industry](https://www.financedigest.com/theres-nothing-artificial-about-the-role-of-ai-and-data-in-the-finance-industry.html "There’s nothing artificial about the role of AI and data in the finance industry "). Like many, I thought I’d find a desk job in London. Instead, I found myself hands-on in my [family business](https://www.financedigest.com/this-lady-is-running-a-family-business-with-her-father-and-brother-heres-what-she-has-learnt-this-year.html "This lady is running a family business with her father and brother. Here’s what she has learnt this year").

My father and uncle owned an indoor pool [company and were regularly installing bi-fold doors into properties](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-u-s-companies-spend-billions-on-stay-at-home-tech-boding-ill-for-office-properties.html "Analysis-U.S. companies spend billions on stay-at-home tech, boding ill for office properties") they were working on. They, alongside my cousin Neil, who was working for the [company at the time](https://www.financedigest.com/oxford-bus-company-outsources-for-the-first-time.html "Oxford Bus Company Outsources for the First Time"), found it extremely difficult to find bi-fold doors of a high standard in the UK, and when they could, finding them in the correct specifications and with practical lead-times was near impossible. Identifying a gap in the [market for a market-leading bi-fold door system](https://www.financedigest.com/boat-steering-system-market-to-witness-cagr-of-9-rise-in-value-share-during-the-period-2019-2029.html "Boat Steering System Market to Witness CAGR of 9% Rise in Value Share During the Period 2019 – 2029"), Neil and I launched Origin in 2002.

**Working in Construction**

At Origin, I have worked within almost every role, starting out as a bookkeeper and [sales manager](https://www.financedigest.com/aragon-the-decentralized-management-platform-for-companies-announces-token-sale.html "ARAGON, THE DECENTRALIZED MANAGEMENT PLATFORM FOR COMPANIES, ANNOUNCES TOKEN SALE "). However, I always ensured that I was hands on with the products, regardless of my job title. There were so few of us [working at the company](https://www.financedigest.com/alone-together-how-to-maintain-a-positive-company-culture-while-working-remotely.html "Alone together: How to maintain a positive company culture while working remotely") in the beginning that we all had to help out and I never shied away from anything, from helping make the doors to unloading a lorry.

This allowed me to clearly [see where we could build up our operations to fuel growth and keep up with demand](https://www.financedigest.com/inpost-sees-stronger-2022-but-warns-of-slowing-demand.html "InPost sees stronger 2022 but warns of slowing demand"). One of the first things I did was establish an accounts department which was key to helping us cope with an increasing number of orders, as well as aiding [cash flow](https://www.financedigest.com/should-your-business-reconsider-invoice-financing-top-tips-on-why-reappraising-this-method-liberates-business-cash-flow.html "Should your business reconsider invoice financing? Top tips on why reappraising this method liberates business cash flow") so we could continue buying material to ensure we could deliver to our growing customer base. I took a similar approach with HR, recruitment, and [business operations which allowed Origin to grow significantly in a short space](https://www.financedigest.com/green-initiatives-cut-self-storage-business-space-stations-energy-costs-by-75.html "Green initiatives cut self-storage business Space Station’s energy costs by 75%") of time.

Throughout this process, I [moved from admin manager](https://www.financedigest.com/managing-your-expenses-during-a-move.html "Managing your expenses during a move!!!") to COO. Alongside my personal journey, the [company has become the UK’s biggest](https://www.financedigest.com/truic-evaluates-the-biggest-business-incorporation-companies-in-the-us.html "TRUiC Evaluates The Biggest Business Incorporation Companies in The US") aluminium door and window manufacturer, and now has a turnover of over £52 million. [Despite this significant growth](https://www.financedigest.com/euro-zone-credit-growth-remains-brisk-despite-gloomy-outlook.html "Euro zone credit growth remains brisk despite gloomy outlook"), Origin will always maintain its family ethos and we will never let those values and standards drop.

If someone had told me what my entrepreneurship journey would be at the start of my career, I would have been very nervous to take on the challenge. Founding and growing a [business can be uncomfortable at times and it certainly isn’t](https://www.financedigest.com/isnt-it-time-open-banking-delivered-for-businesses.html "Isn’t It Time Open Banking Delivered for Businesses?") always a steady upwards trajectory. That said, Neil and I have consistently made decisions to [protect the future](https://www.financedigest.com/5-ways-to-protect-your-wealth-for-future-generations.html "5 Ways to Protect Your Wealth for Future Generations") of our business. One of the best decisions we made was to bring on Daniel Baker, who is now our [Managing Director](https://www.financedigest.com/anya-libova-joins-apester-as-uk-managing-director.html "Anya Libova joins Apester as UK Managing Director"). This came at a crucial time for Origin. It was just after the economic crash, and we [became inundated with orders which was putting strain on the business](https://www.financedigest.com/how-china-became-big-business-for-twitter-from-blocking-to-blue-checks.html "How China became big business for Twitter, from blocking to blue checks"). We realised that we needed to change the direction of Origin if we were to [stay ahead](https://www.financedigest.com/staying-ahead-of-risk-this-black-friday.html "Staying Ahead of Risk This Black Friday").

The [changes we implemented](https://www.financedigest.com/synapses-premier-partner-green-light-change-completes-successful-implementation-of-insight-solution-at-ramboll.html "Synapse’s Premier Partner, Green Light Change, Completes Successful Implementation of Insight Solution at Ramboll") allowed Origin to flourish. It was hard for me to let someone else make strategic decisions for the business, having been part of it [since day](https://www.financedigest.com/dollar-set-for-biggest-two-day-fall-since-2009-as-rate-outlook-shifts.html "Dollar set for biggest two-day fall since 2009 as rate outlook shifts") one, and also having been the one responsible for many of the processes in place. However, I [needed to let go so that the company could continue to grow](https://www.financedigest.com/55-of-uk-smes-unable-to-access-all-funding-needed-to-grow.html "55% of UK SMEs unable to access all funding needed to grow"), and so that we could continue to bring in the very best talent, all of whom had more experience and knowledge in their field than I did. This was a key lesson in my career.

**Greater Diversity**

I am fortunate that I can [say being a woman hasn’t limited](https://www.financedigest.com/digital-euro-will-be-free-but-limited-in-scope-ecb-says.html "Digital euro will be free but limited in scope, ECB says") my opportunities as an entrepreneur or as a leader within the construction industry, but I’m aware that not everyone has the same story. At Origin, we have worked incredibly hard to create a diverse team, with brilliant men and [women operating across all aspects of the business](https://www.financedigest.com/overcoming-challenges-faced-by-women-in-business.html "Overcoming challenges faced by women in business"), from our Board of Directors through to those fabricating the doors and windows. Because of this, I’m certain this diverse school of thought gives us a [competitive advantage](https://www.financedigest.com/turning-big-data-compliance-into-a-competitive-advantage.html "TURNING ‘BIG DATA’ COMPLIANCE INTO A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE").

When we founded Origin, I was one of the only [women I knew working in construction](https://www.financedigest.com/3-ways-to-safeguard-and-include-women-in-construction.html "3 ways to safeguard and include women in construction"). Despite this, I loved the buzz. I believe that anyone can excel with the right mindset, irrespective of their sex or gender. Our diverse leadership team at Origin shows how confident we are in the abilities of every member of our staff, and we will continue to [drive for more women in the construction industry](https://www.financedigest.com/car-sharing-industry-revs-up-with-wembley-park-residents-in-the-driving-seat.html "Car sharing industry revs up with Wembley Park residents in the driving seat").

While I’m lucky to have led the career path I have so far, I take care to work with every [member of staff](https://www.financedigest.com/gumgum-appoints-new-staff-members-across-germany.html "GumGum appoints new staff members across Germany") to ensure that Origin is the best it can be – and so that my experience isn’t unique.

For more information about Origin, please visit [https://origin-global.com/](https://origin-global.com/).

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