Housebuilder Vistry Group has appointed Emma Colin as its new managing director for the West of England, creating an even ratio of males and female directors on the regional board.
Ms Colin replaces the retiring Dave Farley in the post, and will oversee the delivery of new homes for Bovis and Linden brands in South Gloucestershire, Bristol, North Somerset, Somerset, and Wiltshire, as well as Wales.
A former boss at property consultancy Strutt and Parker and developer Ballymore, Ms Colin is the eleventh woman Vistry has promoted to board level across the company over the past two years, and will be responsible for a 140-strong regional workforce.
Vistry said while the construction industry had “come a long way” in achieving a more diverse and equal workforce, data from the Chartered Institute of Building had shown women only make up 15% of the industry.
Ms Colin said: “In this day and age, having a balanced workforce should be the norm but in construction that is not the case. 34% of all of our employees at Vistry are female, compared to the industry’s 15 per cent average, but there’s still a lot of work to do to ensure we attract and retain a more diverse workforce.
“I feel the responsibility to call out behaviour, showcase best practise and be open about any struggles, so we can help spread change.”
Ms Colin added she was “proud” of the equal number of male and female directors in Vistry’s Western region.
“Having a balanced board provides different perspectives; we’re constantly learning from each other and it’s wonderful to see these different approaches having a positive effect on the working environment.”
Vestry Western is currently looking to deliver 550 properties this year across a range of developments, with plans to launch new sites next year, including in Wanborough and Netherhampton in Wiltshire and Congresbury in North Somerset.
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