In celebration of International Women’s Day, we have taken the opportunity to interview Annelee Roscoe who has just been appointed ESG and HR Director for the Premier Modular Group.
Annelee joined Premier as HR Manager in 2016 before progressing to Head of Human Resources. Her role has now been expanded to include ESG and she is heading up Premier’s drive to net zero.
What does your role include?
I have overall responsibility for ensuring that Premier’s HR strategy is fully aligned with the business’s objectives and our ambitious plans for growth. This means optimising productivity and the effectiveness of our workforce, and applying HR best practice at every level, in line with good governance and our statutory obligations.
I am also now the business lead for developing Premier’s ESG strategy. It is an absolute priority that all our operations benefit the environment, the communities in which we live and work, and our stakeholders. We can then contribute to a better and more sustainable future for everyone.
What do you enjoy about your job?
No day is the same and I thoroughly enjoy that variety. I thrive on interactions with people and on making a positive difference to others.
What is it like working at Premier?
I have worked for a number of market leaders in my career and have enjoyed every role. But I can honestly say that Premier is by far the best company I have ever worked for!
There is a fantastic culture here and everyone at every level is continually striving to go above and beyond. And a big part of that culture is having a lot of fun along the way.
There is a really great bunch of people here at Premier and such a positive and infectious ‘can do’ attitude.
Why should more women work in construction?
Construction is incredibly fast-moving – and so the skills that many women possess, such as the ability to communicate effectively and to multi-task, are extremely beneficial and needed in this sector.
Having more women in traditionally male-dominated industries like construction, means companies can benefit from a more diverse perspective on the challenges faced and the possible solutions.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Premier is embracing the renewed focus on offsite construction and the drive for netzero. As a result, I would expect to see considerable growth over the next five years and I am really looking forward to being part of that and driving the HR and ESG strategies to meet the needs of our customers, our employees, our shareholders, and the wider community.
How has the business environment changed for women in your career?
Equality, diversity, and inclusion are now so important in any business – and we know it is for Premier following a recent survey of our employees and stakeholders.
Creating an inclusive, high-performing environment in which women can thrive and add value is now absolutely fundamental to the success of organisations in both the public and private sectors. That is such a positive and welcome change.
At Premier, we are investing in personal development plans to encourage more talented women to achieve their full potential, and that is great to be a part of.
Can you give us a look to the future for women in construction?
It is a fact that women are still significantly under-represented in construction and manufacturing.
However, if every organisation – from clients, contractors, and the supply chain – makes improving diversity a priority, we will see significant progress. And those organisations who embrace this, will be much stronger for it.
We will continue to work hard at Premier to further increase the representation of women at every level – from the factory to our Board.