03 August 2011
D-Drill managing director Julie White was recently chosen to take part in the Coventry Telegraph’s 20 questions feature in its Business Monday section.
Here is a selection of the questions and answers below!
Where did you grow up?
I am a Coventry girl born and bred and then my parents moved to Brinklow
Which school did you attend?
Infants and Middle school in Binley Woods
Did you go to university? If so, where – and what did you study?
No – I went to Warwickshire College and came out with a very bad grade in Business Management – I liked to party too much!!
What was your first job?
It was working here in the office (my dad owned the business previously). Then I decided to go off round the world. He said I’d be back in three months. I came home 12 years later after sailing around the world three times!
What was your first wage?
£15 pounds and it came in a brown square envelope – I thought I was rich!!
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Picking up the World Association Award in Vegas earlier this year. We won it for a wire-sawing job that saved a priceless 100-year Royal Doulton tile art piece n Newcastle. The work was done by two staff who had come through our apprenticeship scheme. The award is the equivalent to an Oscar in the Diamond Drilling and Cutting world!!
What is the biggest challenge you have faced in life?
Even in the face of that low point, we don’t want to lose skilled people so we looked at everything else within the business and within eight months we had cut £1.4 million cost out of the company and kept every site operative and employed six apprentices.
What are your ultimate career aspirations?
I think I am doing it now!! I have grown up in this industry and within D-Drill and love the technology and ethos of our company. We have taken a company with an amazing industry reputation and great morals into the 21st century and worked these benefits to our advantage and now, even though we are still in the recession, we are stronger.
What are your goals for the year ahead?
To continue to grow the company and our market share. We have a great client base and we pride ourselves on offering a great service. That should help to cement our place in the industry.
What is the biggest challenge facing school, college and university leavers today?
Getting a job because so many are not equipped for the world of work. We are doing our bit at D-Drill as we are taking on as many apprentices as we possibly can and we are proud that 32 per cent of our Diamond Drillers have either come through, or are going through, an apprenticeship course.
What is needed most to help businesses?
In our industry, and most others, a dramatic reduction in red tape and HR issues. It takes up so much time that could be spent more constructively growing the business.
What do you like doing in your time away from the workplace?
I am a true water lover – so I have no idea how I was born in Coventry! I love wakeboarding, windsurfing and kitesurfing.
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