Samantha Grierson Schwarz, director of change and chair of the Inclusion Steering Group at international metal recycling company EMR, says that company is working to encourage more women to enter the metal recycling industry.
What some might not know is that the U.K.-headquartered company with locations around the globe has a history that dates back to the 1950s and a woman’s dream of a better life for her family.
In the 1940s, Winifred Sheppard left wartime London for the relative safety of Rochdale after a bomb destroyed the factory where she worked and her job was relocated to Greater Manchester. With her husband and children, Sheppard started the business now known as EMR, in central Rochdale, according to a news release from the company in honor of International Women’s Day, March 8.
“When you think of metal recycling, you may have in mind an industry that is male-dominated,” Grierson Schwarz says. “You are not wrong.”
While Grierson Schwarz says she has not found her gender to be a factor in her success, she acknowledges that women globally might not share that sentiment.
“The question arises, what are the obstacles preventing women from pursuing a career in these industries? An article published by International Women’s Day illustrated how inflexible working environments prove a big barrier for women who look to balance their careers with family life. Part-time working, job shares, remote working and maternity/paternity benefits are increasingly offered and frequently reviewed with the aim of increasing female participation in the workplace. After all, ‘Women belong in all places where decisions are being made,’” she says, referencing a quote from former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
To encourage more women to enter industries traditionally viewed as being “male territory,” Grierson Schwarz says, “We must celebrate the individuals in roles that are not traditionally perceived as open to them, sharing the positive experiences which they have had within these positions. With this, we show their peers that their aspirations are attainable.”
She adds, “It is also important for businesses to review the way that positions are advertised and recruited. Unconsciously there is a tendency to use language which can be uninviting for women. Many businesses, like EMR, now use their recruitment process to highlight their commitment to equality in the workplace, and at EMR we aim to ensure that recruitment decisions are made solely on experience and talent.”
Grierson Schwarz adds that companies must go beyond hiring practices to create an “inclusive environment” that encourages everyone to bring “their whole self to work each day and feels valued, heard and able to make an impact while progressing their careers.”
She continues, “At EMR, we are working hard to create an environment where women can achieve their potential. Our culture is described by ‘The EMR Way’ – ‘We Care’ and ‘We Do’. It’s built on our values of ‘caring’ about what we do and getting the job ‘done’ for our customers and suppliers. These principles and values guide all of our actions and decisions. We ask that all of our employees uphold our values, try to inspire them in others and hold us to account if we fall short of them, so we can learn and improve.”
Grierson Schwarz says EMR “is already on the journey to ensuring the workplace is as inclusive as possible.” She adds, “To continue to build a more equal and inclusive future, our Learning and Development Team are already working hard to educate and better equip people for jobs, addressing skill-gap shortages and developing clear career plans to develop people and to keep them.”
The company’s new Inclusion Steering Group will help to “further the discussion and the development of a more inclusive environment where everyone can prosper,” Grierson Schwarz says.
“It was one woman’s determination that created the EMR we know today,” she continues. “EMR’s heritage and family values certainly shape the business, and I am proud to say I work for a company that aims to treat everyone equally and that puts their people first.”