Chandni Vora is a trailblazing female leader in the construction industry. As Chief Operating Officer of Vascroft Contractors Ltd, a principal contracting business that specialises in the construction, refurbishment, engineering, joinery and fit out services across a wide range of sectors. She brings a wealth of expertise in finance, commercial operations, systems, and change management to the table.
Beyond her role at Vascroft, Vora actively contributes to the entrepreneurial community as an advisor to E2E, an organisation that connects entrepreneurs. She is also a voluntary UK board member for the Women’s Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (WICCI), where she advocates for women and Indian businesses. Additionally, she is a Freedom member of the prestigious City of London Livery—the Worshipful Company of Constructors—and serves on the Climate Action Committee, focusing on sustainability in the sector along with her a mentorship role for the climate committee scholarship programme.
Chandni’s commitment to philanthropy is equally remarkable. Having participated in various long-distance endurance challenges, she has raised thousands of pounds for charity. In 2022, she was appointed a Trustee for the Asian Sports Foundation UK, an organisation dedicated to increasing participation and engagement of minority ethnic groups in sports and physical activity. She also serves as a Trustee for the Vascroft Foundation UK, which supports global humanitarian causes.
Chandni was honoured with an MBE for services to business and to charity in the New Year’s Honour List 2025.
Leadership with purpose
As COO, Vora emphasises collaboration and empowerment. “Leadership isn’t about knowing everything; it’s about creating an environment where others can thrive,” she explains. “I believe in letting people take ownership of their ideas. It fosters accountability and innovation.”
Her diverse background in finance, engineering, and telecommunications has equipped her with expertise in project management, process improvement, and change management, all of which have been pivotal in her 26-year career journey.
“Working in this industry has brought its challenges, but it has also made me stronger and more resilient—though I had to prove myself more than others,” Vora shares. “Construction companies have made significant strides in addressing historical gender inequality. While there’s still progress to be made, I truly believe the industry is changing for the better, and the next generation will have more opportunities than ever before.”
Vora believes women bring a unique value to leadership roles. “Women often bring a higher level of emotional intelligence, which allows us to approach situations with empathy and create inclusive environments,” she notes.
For Vora, mentorship has played a crucial role. “I’ve been fortunate to have inspiring female mentors who taught me how to navigate challenges. Their guidance has shaped my approach to leadership.”
Personal identity and giving back
Chandni’s journey is not just about professional success; it is deeply personal. As a diabetic and a mother, she is committed to staying healthy and being present for her daughters. “My mother passed away at 36, so it’s been a personal goal to ensure I’m there for my children well beyond that age,” she shares.
Cycling has become a passion for Vora, and she uses it to support charitable causes. Her first major challenge was the London to Brighton ride in 2012 for the Rainbow Trust, a charity supporting families of terminally ill children. “That ride gave me a profound sense of achievement and opened the door to more opportunities to support causes close to my heart,” she recalls. Due to the commitment to herself and her wellbeing of consistency to be active led her to the opportunity to ride for the HRH King Charles Chairty, British Asian Trust in 2021. Along this journey of self-growth, she has taken part in several sports from triathlons to completing the London Marathon 2024 and even driving an Indian Auto rickshaw across 2500km of India East to West over 12 days along with 108 volunteers for Sewa UK in December 23. As a life member and volunteer for SKLPC UK, she participated on three peaks of UK over 3 years, Snowdon, Scafell Ben Nevis, with over 60 participants (age ranges of 70-7) to help raise funds for SKLPC UK India Gardens project, Northolt.
Vora’s invitation to join the City of London Livery marked a moment in her career. “As an Asian woman, this felt significant,” she shares. For Vora, her South Asian heritage is central to both her identity and her leadership style. “We have so much to bring to the table—our dharam, our ‘Sanskars’, our culture, and our unique perspectives,” she says.
Born and raised in the UK, Vora maintains strong ties to her cultural roots of India. Fluent in both Hindi and Gujarati, she also trained in Kathak as a child—a tradition she has passed down to her daughters. “It’s about staying connected to where you came from and where the values were instilled,” she explains. “I have my parents and forefathers to thank for their resilience and navigating the challenges to make UK their home, which resonates with many of your readers, in turn has provided me these opportunities to give back”.
Rising above challenges
Navigating a male-dominated industry has presented its challenges, but Vora has met them head-on. She recalls being part of the minority in her graduate role and being the only female in project meetings with project managers at least 10 years her senior, at the start of her career. “It was a different time. I was fortunate to have a supportive mentor, but I spent a lot of time listening rather than speaking to understand the rationale behind decisions being made by colleagues or my seniors. This is part of the learning process and being a team player for a collective common goal,” she reflects.
Vora’s resilience was further tested when she encountered adverse situations in the workplace during her early years. “I’ve had moments in the past where I wasn’t spoken to with respect. instead of reacting in the moment, I chose to address it diplomatically through the right channels,” she says.
She is a strong advocate for blind recruitment processes to ensure fairness and wishes for this to become the norm in the future for the recruitment process. “When interviews focus purely on merit, free from visual bias, it becomes about ability—not gender or background,” she asserts.
Inspiring the next generation
Honoured with an MBE, Vora reflects on the recognition with humility. “I was taken back. You hear about these awards going to people who make extraordinary political contributions or drive massive change in their fields or impactful celebrities etc. To be recognised amongst the UKs plethora of amazing individuals and change-makers is truly a humbling honour for me as I carried on conducting my tasks with no expectations.”
The recognition has been a deeply humbling experience for Vora. “The overwhelming congratulations, especially from elders in my community, were heartwarming. Many said, ‘You’ve paved the way for the daughters of Gujarat and Kutch.’ That recognition was deeply touching.”
Her advice to aspiring leaders? “Surround yourself with the right people—those who inspire and support your growth. I hold onto the moto that the climb will be long, but we can all get there with a positive mindset, self-belief and embrace the obstacles as they come as lessons for our tomorrows’. Leadership is about guiding the project to completion with a sense of shared purpose. Together, we can achieve so much more.”
