Networking, Inspiring, Celebrating Together

Celebrating 10 Years

What a truly memorable night! Last nights Women Informal Networking (WIN) event at Harvey Nichols was extraordinary as we marked a decade of networking, inspiring, and celebrating together.

The evening was filled with vibrant conversation, delicious canapés, and the honour of welcoming our guest speakers, Faye Allen and Lee Chambers.

Faye, author of Building Women, shared insights from her powerful book, which challenges the culture within the construction and built environment industry. Attendees received a signed copy to take home. Purchase a copy of ‘Building Women’ here.

Lee, founder of Essentialise and Male Allies UK, spoke about supporting organisations to engage men in inclusion, accelerate gender equity, and promote effective allyship.

Both speakers were true highlights of the evening, sparking open discussion on the challenges our industry still faces and the barriers we must continue to overcome. It’s so important we:

• Challenge biases from an early age
• Nurture the next generation to believe no career is off-limits
• Call out poor behaviours and create supportive, inclusive workplaces
• Show young people the opportunities the industry has to offer
• Encourage allyship and leadership that uplifts everyone

If we act together, we can create a ripple effect that improves the industry for everyone.

What are WIN events?

Proudly sponsored and run by Potter Raper, WIN launched in 2015 to provide a relaxed and welcoming space for women in construction to connect, collaborate, and support one another.

Over the years, WIN has become a highlight of the industry calendar, offering:

• A relaxed atmosphere: Networking over drinks and canapés, free from the pressure of formal settings.
• Peer-to-peer support: Opportunities to meet like-minded professionals and share experiences.
• Inspiring insights: Guest speakers who educate, challenge, and motivate.
• Celebration of women in construction: Recognising and empowering the vital role women play across the sector.

Due to its popularity, WIN expanded in 2023 beyond London to include our regional offices in Brighton, Cambridge, and Colchester, making these valuable networking opportunities accessible to even more professionals.

Each event is designed to be inclusive and supportive, with a particular focus on creating a safe space for junior professionals. Guests are encouraged to bring along a colleague from a different career stage, either more senior or junior, helping to foster fair representation and diverse conversations.

So, what’s next?
While WIN has always been about creating safe and supportive spaces for women, we know that true allyship and inclusivity involve everyone. That’s why we’re excited to announce that WIN is evolving. Moving forward, our events will welcome a broader audience, ensuring conversations about equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are open to all. Because building inclusive networks benefits the whole industry.

Stay tuned, more news will be shared soon. Want to be on the WIN guest list? Contact info@potterraper.co.uk.