Extract from a debate on Tuesday 24 April 1928 between Nancy Witcher Langhorne Astor, Viscountess ASTOR and the Financial Secretary Mr. Arthur Michael Samuel.

Viscountess ASTOR

"Asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, seeing that women are employed on Customs work in other European countries, he will consider the appointment of suitable women as Customs and Excise officers here?

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that certain grades of work for which women are not considered eligible in England are being perforated by women in other countries, and does he think that women in England are less able to carry out those duties than are women in other countries?"

Mr. SAMUEL

"I cannot know what goes on in other countries. But I know that women might possibly be maltreated or insulted if they carried out such duties at docks, harbours, breweries, and places where rather rough treatment might be expected. It is for that reason only that these duties are closed to women."

Source Customs And Excise Officers (Women) - Hansard - UK Parliament

Thankfully due to the constant push from women like Nancy Witcher Langhorne Astor, today there are thousands of women working within International Trade.

Daily we work together and alongside so many of these women not only within Strong and Herd itself but across board within International Trade.

Today we stand in solidarity with all women across the world striving for gender equality within the workplace. Whether deliberate or unconscious, bias makes it difficult for women to move ahead in 2022 we look to #BreakTheBias

Happy International Women’s Day from our women to yours!