Emma Derham: Tiling, Grit, and Girl Power

Get ready for an inspiring episode of the UK Flooring Podcast as we sit down with Emma Derham, the trailblazing talent behind Smartwood Flooring and Tiling. As a female floor sander and tiler with 17 years of experience, Emma is gearing up to take over her family’s business in Brighton. From battling old-school stereotypes to captaining her women’s football team, Emma shares her journey with grit, humour, and a passion for empowering women in the trades. Episode HighlightsBig Transitions: Emma’s excitement (and nerves) about taking over her parents’ business as they retire, stepping from employee to self-employed leader.Women in Flooring: A powerful call to amplify female voices in the industry, with ideas for women-only training days to inspire the next generation.Confidence is Key: Emma reflects on overcoming self-doubt and proving her worth in a male-dominated trade, urging her younger self to “believe you’re good enough.”Behind the Mask: Despite her confident exterior, Emma admits to struggling with stress and bad days, keeping it real about the emotional toll of leadership.Industry Outlook: Emma predicts rising competition and quick-buck startups, urging businesses to focus on quality and reputation to stand out.Sponsor Shoutout: Experience InstallerFLOORING at InstallerSHOW 2025!Taking place at the NEC, Birmingham on 24-26 June, InstallerFLOORING will feature the latest tools, systems and materials from top exhibitors. There will also be the opportunity to watch live demos from FITA, watch NICF’s Fitter of the Year semi-finals, get hands on with the latest tools and tech, and be in with the chance of winning £10,000! You won’t want to miss out. Register for your FREE ticket here: https://forms.reg.buzz/installer-2025-visitor/flooringpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/installershow/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/installershow Website: https://www.installershow.com/ Roomvo:Roomvo is transforming flooring retail—starting with how you showcase products—online and in-store—by letting shoppers browse a full, visual catalogue and instantly see products in their own space. And for manufacturers, the Roomvo Partner Program ensures your brand and products look perfect across every dealer site. It’s a win-win that drives confidence, trust, and sales. Book your demo here: https://get.roomvo.com/?utm_campaign=12577907-Sponsored%20Partnership%20-%2025.05.01%20-%20UK%20Flooring%20Podcast&utm_source=Uk-flooring-podcast&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=May-2025 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get.roomvo/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/roomvo/Website: https://get.roomvo.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.