International Women’s Day: Interviewing Chloe Murphy

08 March 2026

Bagnalls is proud to champion women within our industry 365 days a year! Our people make our business the success it is.

The painting and decorating sector is still male-dominated, but we are seeing an increased number of women in our teams and coming through our apprenticeship programme. It’s wonderful to know that our Leeds office is a woman-led team that is 22% female!

This International Women’s Day, we’re chatting to our Compliance Coordinator, Chloe Murphy, about her experience working in a male-dominated industry and her brilliant career achievements following her recent promotion.

Tell us about your promotion to Compliance Coordinator at Bagnalls. What’s your favourite part of your job?

Chloe: “I help support Bagnalls in many ways, ensuring that we meet the requirements of both internal and external policies, procedures and standards. This includes helping different teams to understand compliance requirements, keeping documentation up to date, assisting with audits and maintaining accreditations.

“My favourite part of my role is the flexibility it offers. There is a real opportunity to make the most out of our compliance standards and shape them into something that meets Bagnalls’ specific needs.

“I enjoy being able to develop processes, introduce improvements and help steer compliance in a direction that helps the business move forward.”

What’s it like working for a family business?

Chloe: “Bagnalls really invests in its people. It’s clear that the company follows a person-focused approach, putting time and effort into supporting colleagues and giving everyone the tools we need to do our jobs well.”

You’re about to embark on an apprenticeship. How do you think this experience will help build your skill set for your new role?

Chloe: “Before entering the world of compliance, I thought I was inexperienced with the technical side of things. But I quickly realised that there were parts of my previous role that covered the basics of compliance. I didn’t realise how good my prior knowledge actually was! This helped me to build a strong foundation of understanding.

“During my apprenticeship, I’m hoping to deepen my knowledge and develop a clearer understanding of how compliance integrates itself into the wider business.

“I’m eager to continue strengthening my skillset, so that I can feel confident when my colleagues come to me for guidance.”

How does it feel to work in a male-dominated industry?

Chloe: “I’ve been lucky in that I have always enjoyed a positive experience at work. The Bagnalls office I work in is actually female-dominated and I’m pleased to have plenty of fantastic women and men as my colleagues!

“Personally, I haven’t encountered any barriers because of my gender at Bagnalls, which is brilliant and a testament to the women who came before me. The way has been paved and now I get to work with a wonderful, equal team.”

How important is it to have a team made up of both men and women in the workplace?

Chloe: “Working with both men and women helps to provide a broader understanding on issues that arise in work. I think it great to have a diverse mix of perspectives and experiences within the team, as one person may highlight something that another hasn’t considered.

“A mixed team helps to create a more inclusive environment and reflects what is becoming standard practice. Plus, seeing more women working in the painting and decorating industry helps to shift that mindset that it is a male-only field.

“We need to challenge these outdated ideals and normalise the idea that the painting and decorating industry is open to everyone – whether that’s in a decorating role, or in admin, compliance or project management.

“Seeing brilliant women working alongside me in our team makes our sector feel more accessible.”

Do you have a female role model or mentor who has helped you get to where you are today?

Chloe: “Our Group Marketing Director, Joanne Gualda, has really helped me progress in the last 12 months. She’s been patient with me while I adapt not only to a new business, but now to a new role within the business.

“She has such a high level of understanding, both of the sector we work in and Bagnalls as a whole. She always shares her expertise in a way that is clear, constructive and encouraging.”

What advice would you give to a young woman looking to break into the world of compliance?

Chloe: “The biggest piece of advice I can offer is to just go for it! There will always be moments of doubt and taking that first step is always scary, but by doing so, you can open so many doors.”