Things have come a long way since glazing and manufacturing businesses first started trading in the UK, and there are now more opportunities for women in business across all sectors. For generations women have been pushing their way to the front and breaking down barriers. However, there is still “more to be done”, says Samantha Hague, Director of UK Curtain Walling Limited when it comes to equality. With women in manufacturing making up just 15%, the gender gap is still closing slower than in other sectors.
Within this piece, we will look to find out more about how it feels to be a female director in a male dominated sector, and what lessons Samantha has learned over her 30-year career.
Samantha, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I had a great upbringing and a very ‘normal’ Yorkshire education, I was a happy child and teenager. In high school, I took secretarial classes and home economics – like most girls did at that time and the boys went down a different route where they might be encouraged to find a trade or join the army. We weren’t particularly told about ‘life in the real world’ like young people are now, or what career options could arise in the future.
I always wanted to challenge the status quo and I had some strong female role models. I aspired to become a vet through my teenage years and just wanted to care for animals. After a short time working in a Mill in Huddersfield, I went on to do some training to become a nurse.
However, I then fell pregnant, and things changed for me.
You mentioned some strong female role models there, who were they?
I’ve been very lucky to be surrounded by strong women – although I maybe didn’t see it as that growing up. My nana owned a drapers shop in Marsden for many years, which was actually where my mum was born – and then years later I was.
Some women are born with what we would call ‘Yorkshire grit’ and it’s a term we use for women who just refuse to slow down, refuse to be beaten and just want to provide for their families. Looking at my role models, I think that I was always destined to be a business owner.
How did becoming a mum change your career path?
Well, it did unfortunately mean that becoming a nurse or a vet was no longer an option for me as I had a young family and needed to leave my studies behind. I went into a career in sales and started working for BT.
I worked my way up and became what we called a ‘problem solver’. This meant that I would be handling calls from people reporting a bomb outside a public building or something like that. It was never really what I wanted to do, but at this stage it did what I needed it to do and provided me with a way of being a mum and having a career.
What kind of skills did you need to develop to handle that role?
Well, you needed to be able to remain calm under pressure, have good people skills and ultimately be able to keep someone on the line until someone arrives on scene. It really taught me a lot about communication, empathy, listening and how to diffuse situations before they potentially go wrong!
Did you find that this was a transferable skill for later in your career?
Oh absolutely, especially when you’re in business with your husband or dealing with people across the industry. You need to have someone on the end of the phone who can handle and manage the situation – rather than let it get out of hand. I know some people are often scared to pick up the phone and would rather send an email. I’m definitely the other way around.
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.
