Wendy Dent has transitioned from part time worker in finance to full time managing director at Coes of Derby, manufactures of fibre reinforced composites. Her career has not all been smooth sailing, while having to prove herself in a male dominated industry she has seen the company through its toughest year in 2017. Grace Nolan talked with her to find out more about her role as a woman in plastics.
Could you tell me about your background and how you got to where you are now?
Originally my background is in finance. I ran my own business, managing the accounts for several companies, one of which was Coes. Initially I was working just 12 hours a week for the company until I was asked by the MD to join the team on a full-time employed basis. I accepted and my Coes journey began!
I started as an office manager, which then progressed to general manager and then I joined the Board of Directors as finance director, before becoming MD in 2018.
To begin with, I have to admit that I didn’t know much about fibreglass but I soon learnt! When I was general manager, I was aware that I was a woman in a male dominated industry. I didn’t want to be given the runaround just because I didn’t know about fibreglass, plus I needed to be knowledgeable about the product to be able to liaise with customers and suppliers, as well as passing on work instructions to the laminators. So, I took it upon myself to learn about all aspects of fibreglass and enrolled on a laminating course in Southampton.
Q: As a Managing Director what does a typical day consist of?
As anyone running a company will tell you - no two days are the same! There is so much variety.
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I work closely with my team and check in regularly with the production manager and the office manager to see what tasks we have and how jobs are progressing. I’m also in regular contact with customers and suppliers to ensure the smooth running of everything so my workload depends on the outcomes of those conversations and juggling the demands of many different aspects across the business.
Instead of having our own product with regular production, we manufacture to the specification of each customer. This means I could be dealing with the Ministry of Defence or Rolls Royce one day and fairground ride manufacturers the next! It really is varied but that’s what keeps it exciting!
Q: What is your opinion on gender roles in the plastics industry?
When I joined the industry it was heavily male dominated but I believe this is now changing. If anything this drove me to succeed, but I’m pleased attitudes are changing and that there are now more opportunities for women in the plastics industry.
Q: Have you ever been in a situation at work where you have felt your gender has affected your progress?
In the early days I did feel that my gender affected my progress as this was a male dominated industry. Just the shop-floor alone was a challenge to me. A lot of the staff have been with the company for many years and were reluctant to take orders from a new person, yet alone a woman to start with! Hence the course that I booked myself on. It was important to me to have that knowledge and be able to prove my worth. Nobody knew I was going on it or that I even attended it until recently.
Q: What is the best advice you have been given?
Don’t take life too seriously! Make sure I make time for Wendy – having a happy work-life balance.
Q: What is the biggest challenge you have faced in your career?
This has to be managing people. It’s part and parcel of running a business, but it doesn’t get any easier!
Q: What has been your biggest accomplishment in your career?
Coes has been in business for almost 70 years but in 2017 the company went through difficult times following a failed Joint Venture. The company was on the brink of going under but I was able to step in and restructure the company so that we could keep going and that jobs weren’t lost. I’m very proud of my achievements in doing that and then watching the progress the company has made since then.
Q: How important do you feel female role models are to the younger generation and did you have one?
I do feel female role models are important to the younger generation. I didn’t have one but I was lucky to have a very good boss who would take me out with him to meetings with customers, and who spent time with me to make sure I understood every aspect of the job, whether it be reading the drawings or understanding the technical elements of the job. He would then push me to be the leading voice in meetings which has been invaluable experience in my current role.
Q: Do you feel there is enough information/opportunities for the next generation to be encouraged to have a career in the plastics industry? If no-what more do you feel could be done?
Negativity around plastics will undoubtedly be having a huge knock-on effect and is most likely deterring the next generation from choosing a career in plastics. The plastics industry however has huge potential for evolving and finding more sustainable solutions so there are huge opportunities for future generations to be part of something which could really make a difference.
