In recognition of International Women’s Day, we sat down with three of our female Manufacturing Growth Managers to discuss the importance of this event and supporting Women in Manufacturing.
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Sharn Haywood-Higgs – Greater Birmingham and Solihull
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Helen Fortune – Black Country
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Sarah Goodwin – South East
Why do you think it is important to celebrate International Women’s Day?
Sarah: For equality and inspiration. I feel that the equilibrium is improving but its only by looking at how far women have come and the women that have made a difference that we can strive for true equality.
Helen: Because it gives us a chance to showcase the wonderful things women can achieve, but also to celebrate equality and diversity
Sharn: To celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women
Have you faced any barriers in your career due to being a woman? If so, how did you overcome them?
Sarah: I entered a male orientated sector as a second career and it was a shock, I was surprised (to say the least) that men were paid more and that they were in all the management roles. I was fortunate that I was quite good at the job and was able to demand (nicely) equal pay and better conditions that suited the women in the workplace. I ended up as a director and I would like to think that I helped shape a better working environment for both women and men.
Sharn: I was asked by a director why I wanted to be pregnant to get fat and sick. I left that company. Glad to say I never experienced anything like that, in the rest of my working career
What is the most important piece of advice you have been given?
Sarah: It’s a well-known phrase but my dad said it to me ‘If you love what you work at, it never feels like work’ I have only once had a job I didn’t love and that was short lived.
Helen: Learn from your mistakes, they make you the person you are today. ‘Dust yourself off and get back up again’.
Sharn: Don’t wear tight shoes as they give you wrinkles!
How can we encourage more women to pursue entrepreneurship or senior leadership roles in their career?
Sharn: By sharing success stories of our Female MDs of the Manufacturing companies we support. Perhaps put on events with Female Senior Managers who can tell their stories. We also need to echo the importance of nurturing talented young women in the workplace.
Sarah: I think mentorships play an important role, a person that inspires with their own experiences can be very empowering. Larger businesses seem better at this, but I think it can be done in smaller companies to great effect. Companies can also make sure they have good CPD on offer which is good for both the company and employee.
Helen: Give them the tools, knowledge, and confidence that they need.
What is the most important message you want to send out to young women thinking about their careers?
Sarah: Think about what you want to do and set a route to doing it, it may not happen overnight but if you have a vision, you will do it. And make it fun along the way.
Sharn: Just work hard, make sure you have voice and never give up!
Helen: You can achieve anything that you put your mind to.
In your opinion, why is it important that more women work in the manufacturing sector?
Sharn: There is a skills gap in the Manufacturing Sector, and we need to open the talent pool to overcome this challenge. Women transformational qualities that can help the Manufacturing Sector to prosper and grow.
Helen: So that manufacturing is diverse and inclusive. Women can have the same knowledge, skills, and ability as men. The manufacturing sector needs to grow, and ALL genders can contribute to the growth.
Sarah: Because every person deserves an equal opportunity and as individual men bring unique qualities, so do women. And this means there are so many more qualities to enter the industry.
Are there are female owned clients you would like to acknowledge?
Sarah: I have worked with some fabulous women leaders in manufacturing including Vanessa Ambler at We Care 4 Air, Rachael Giordini at Pioppo, Sarah Bays at Century Office and Laura Mudie at Rosa and Bo. All passionate about what they do and developing new aspects of their businesses continually.
Sharn: Helena Flowers at Andel Plastics Ltd and Gill McElhannan at Thermaset Ltd.
Helen – Yes definitely, Val Gardner – Winster Limited, Nat Macaulay – JCM Contracts (Midlands) Limited and Nicky Hill – Accura Engineering Limited. All very passionate and driven, however this said all the female Directors/Owners/Managers I have engaged with under MGP have been an inspiration.
Are there any female family members or friends you would like to acknowledge?
Sarah: Too many to mention! I am very lucky to have lots of women that inspire me, but I am proud of my two daughters. Amie runs her own catering business – The Party Kitchen, where she manages to make producing delicious food and style all sorts of events. And Esme, who at 22 shows no fear of going after what she wants in her career, and now in a management position of someone twice her age.
Sharn: My Mom and my Besties Jenny Woodhouse and Emma Riley. All three are hardworking, confident strong women. Always there to lift me when I have a wobble. I blessed to have all three of them
Helen: Yes, my Nan (Mom’s Mom) and my Mom, they bought me up to be strong (even though sometimes I need to remember this!).
What powerful women do you admire the most?
Sharn: Jacinda Ardern New Zealand President – the first time a woman has ever held the top slot solo. (Winners are sometimes part of a group.) What Ardern has accomplished in the past year-plus is astounding: she has all but eliminated COVID-19 in her country of nearly 5 million, with fewer than 3,000 cases and only 26 deaths. She’s adopted world-leading climate, gender-equity, and equal pay policies. Then, in March, New Zealand became the first country to require banks, investment managers and insurers to disclose the effects of climate change on their businesses.
Sarah: When I think of someone who had a big impact on me, I think of the politician Mo Mowlam (sadly no longer here) who managed to take on a really tough role and with humanity made a real difference. The inclusion of women in her work was important and was a change to the normal way of doing things at that time. These days I am great admirer of Brené Brown. When I first came across her it felt like I had found my own personal mentor and I buy her books for people all the time. I should write a list of who I’ve given what to though as with my memory I could double up at some point!
What are your hopes for the manufacturing industry in terms of equality?
Sharn: That more manufacturing companies take further steps to identify and nurture the talented women they already have. They also need to open more opportunities for more women to join their enterprise.
Sarah: I have no doubt that women are entrepreneurial and given the right opportunities they bring a whole range of qualities to any workplace. But I do think there needs to be more awareness of the opportunities and a drive to show young women what is available, through schools, colleges etc.
Helen: I think it’s already happening; I think times are changing and women are now more confident to put their selves forward and are being accepted in diverse roles, manufacturing industry included.
What is your proudest achievement?
Sharn: Having my son. He is so well mannered and so respectful to women
Helen: My daughter ‘She’s grown in to a beautiful, strong young lady’ her guidance has come from somewhere!!!!!
What advice would you give tot your younger self?
Sharn: Be more confident and have a go at anything. Life is too short to think I wish I have had done that
Helen: ‘Go for it’ whatever ‘it’ may be, you can achieve and enjoy yourself along the way, don’t be too critical of yourself.
Sarah: You are good enough to achieve whatever you want, there’s no need for the imposter syndrome!