05/06/2026
BDMA (British Damage Management Association) Conference 2026 was a powerful reminder of the value of showing up. Events like these create opportunities to strengthen existing relationships, build new connections, and share meaningful conversations with people who are passionate about our industry.
My sincere thanks to the BDMA (British Damage Management Association) team for hosting such a fantastic event, and for the privilege of speaking on the panel session, “See Her, Be Her: Inspiring Women in Disaster Recovery,” on Thursday. It was an honour to contribute to an important discussion about visibility, representation, and inspiring the next generation of women in our industry.
During the session, I had the pleasure of sharing the story of our incredible apprentice, Blaze, who joined The Abbey Group over 18 months ago as a trainee cabinet maker while studying for her NVQ Level 3 in Woodworking, Carpentry and Joinery. Blaze worked four days a week with us and attended college one day a week, successfully completing her qualification with outstanding results.
Sadly, before joining Abbey, Blaze had been turned down by several companies who judged her on being a young woman rather than recognising her talent and potential. She was told she might not be suitable for the role because of the physical demands of the job, and even because she appeared “too pretty” or “too dainty” for what is often perceived as a male-dominated industry.
Fortunately for us, we saw something very different. We saw determination, enthusiasm, and genuine passion for the craft. From the moment she joined, Blaze embraced every opportunity to learn and develop. Alongside her college studies, she has gained valuable workshop skills that aren’t taught in the classroom, including hand veneering, door barring, staining, polishing, and leather lining. She has grown in confidence, regularly contributes ideas and solutions, and is becoming an invaluable member of the team.
I am incredibly proud to share that Blaze will be joining us full-time from next week. Her journey is a fantastic example of why representation matters and why we should never make assumptions about what someone can achieve based on stereotypes.
Thank you to Lucy Aartje for hosting and my fellow panellists Nicky Short Fay Farah Samantha Breden Melissa Bridges Emma Holroyde Siobhan Eke and everyone who attended, shared their experiences, and helped make the conversation so impactful.
