When the going gets tough, the women get going
Two generations ago, few women were engaged within the sign industry although a small number were engaged in the sales, accounts and administration departments, however things are changing.
Monday, 30 Jul 2018 12:04 GMT
Linda Edwards pictured with fellow nominees at the Johnson Press East Sussex Women in Business Awards
Across manufacturing and industry, women make up at least a quarter of the workforce with the numbers continuing to increase. There are several high-profile females in important positions in the industry such as Linda Barraclough of Innova Solutions who helps drive the firm as a director and maintaining its image at events such as Sign & Digital UK.
Sam Armstrong of Make It Happen organises training sessions for the sign industry at SignFab with a passion to introduce new blood into the growing sector. Then there is Lucy Ratcliffe and Sam Kehoe who are the directors of Signmaster Systems in Shropshire. These and other females show that women are interested in the sign industry and through their example will help to bring more women into the industry.
When the credit crunch hit back in 2008 Linda came into her own”
Linda Edwards, operations director at The Sussex Sign Company, has received the Highly Commended Award at the Johnson Press East Sussex Women in Business Awards. She began her career at the Portslade firm in 2002 as their first graphic designer but as the company grew, she was promoted and moved to senior management.
She says: “My strengths were recognised, and it was fabulous to work in a business where I could put all my abilities to use, above and beyond my job description. At the start of my employment we were a team of six, in 2018 we are proud to employ a team of 24, having successfully exceeded Norman Mayhew’s original ambition to have a £1m turnover business. For me, it is paramount to recognise and acknowledge where individual team members’ strengths lie and elevate them to the foreground.”
Linda Edwards of the Sussex Sign Company with her award
When the credit crunch hit back in 2008 Linda came into her own. She recalls: “It was an incredibly challenging time, nevertheless the experience provided the opportunity for me to develop and demonstrate a much wider skill and knowledge base – incorporating skills such as; leadership, crisis management and problem solving. I was confident that collectively, Norman Mayhew and I would lead the organisation to ensure its continued existence – which included personally investing to become an additional shareholder.”
Linda’s faith in the firm shows that when the going gets tough, the women get going and invest in the business. The awards were announced at the Cavendish Hotel and presented by guest host Vicky Edwards, whose stage work includes seasons at Chichester Festival Theatre, a stint in the West End and several national tours.
Female sign-makers and women in the business in general, we would love to hear from you and get your take on the industry. Send in your stories to Harry@linkpublishing.co.uk or call me on 0117 9805 040. Or react to the story on Twitter and have your say.
If you have an interesting story or a view on this news, then please e-mail news@signlink.co.uk
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