Aluminium
Tell us a bit more about how you came to be involved in UK Curtain Walling …
My husband Duncan had been in the industry for many years , and he was very good at what he did . I joined the team initially to try and grow the Window Control Systems Limited business , which provides window actuators in schools , healthcare buildings and residential blocks across the UK . In 2018 we were given the opportunity to buy both businesses and it ’ s something that we both jumped at – even though it was a bit scary .
Have you found there to be challenges as a female director ?
I would say that I am challenged less now than I was say , 10-15 years ago . But I still find it advantageous to name a like Samantha , that can be shortened to Sam . If I ’ m dealing with a business I don ’ t know , I ’ ll always sign off my emails as ‘ Sam ’ – sometimes just so they get a shock when a woman ’ s voice answers the phone .
But that doesn ’ t mean to say that it ’ s always because of my gender , I sometimes like to be anonymous !
Do you think that there ’ s something ‘ unique ’ that you ’ re able to bring to the role ?
I don ’ t know whether I would say it ’ s ‘ unique ’, but I do think that I ’ m in a fortunate position to take a step back and think around the project . We may work in a listed building where we can ’ t damage the floors , so we find a way around that . In schools , we can ’ t send in contractors to clean up after an install – so we supply our team with dust sheets and window cleaning solution to make things look as good as possible at the end of a job . It ’ s often the little touches that get forgotten about , but my background in customer service has helped me to understand how things like this matter .
What impact has working with the University of Wolverhampton Racing had on your business ?
We started working with UWR last year and it ’ s been a very positive move for us and I ’ m really pleased that we got in touch with them . I just love the way that the University of Wolverhampton Racing team are changing the racing and engineering industry and creating more opportunities across the board .
To be involved in their team and work on the Formula 3 car , you need to apply for the position . It ’ s very sought after and it ’ s a title that anyone can get – regardless of your gender . But that being said , they ’ re also looking to create a female led team in things continue to go well for them . I think that this is just fantastic and is a great way for young women to see more opportunities being made for their future .
This sounds great , so do you see things changing in the future ?
Since we bought UK Curtain Walling and Window Control Systems it ’ s already changed . Things are continually progressing and are certainly going in the right direction . I think we need to stop talking about whether you ’ re a man , woman - or other , and just look at the right person for the job . Do they add value to our business ? Do they have the right skills ? Do they align with what we want to achieve ? Can we get on with them ?
That ’ s what is important and that ’ s what I can see happening across the industry .
So , what ’ s next for UK Curtain Walling ?
The Pandemic has changed everything for us really and I think that the industry is still recovering . So , I ’ m not really sure on the future just yet , but I know we want to keep going and growing . We have got a fantastic team and a fantastic network that supports the business . We ’ re very grateful for this and it ’ s really kept us going in the hard times during lockdown and the pandemic .
Our team in the office are great at what they do , and they ’ ve really pushed on these last few years . They show no signs of slowing down and neither do we .
It takes many people to run a business like UK Curtain Walling or Window Control Systems . Whether it ’ s our sub-contractors that we work with occasionally , our insurance broker that keeps us compliant or the team that supports our marketing – we ’ re all in it together . It ’ s great to feel part of something like that .
curtainwallinguk . co . uk
CLEARVIEW-UK . COM JUNE 2022
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