To celebrate International Women’s Day and WICW 2022, we caught up with some of APS’s own key women in construction. Last year it was Sandie and Janette who stepped into the spotlight, this week we’ve had the pleasure of catching up with Coral and Judi, to find out more about their roles and their highlights.
Coral
Tell us about your role with APS. How did it all begin, this step into the architectural product world!?
I joined APS around 6 months ago now. It was a big change for me as I had been with my previous company nearly 12 years. There were lots of new challenges to overcome, but I’m proud to have taken that step into a fast paced company in which I am really enjoying my role.
What does your role entail?
My role entails purchasing all raw materials, aluminium and any ad hoc purchases that are required for APS, I have managed to create some great working relationships with our suppliers which makes my working life a lot easier. I also maintain the ISO 9001:2005, complete internal audits and maintain the ISO folder.
What’s a key highlight for you?
My key strength and something I particularly enjoy, is problem solving, I like to get to the bottom of problems and get them sorted.
And what about outside of work, what are you proud of?
Outside of work, I am most proud of my family – my daughter and partner. They both make me so proud to be a part of their lives and I love watching them flourish.
Judi
Tell us about your role with APS. How did it all begin, this step into the architectural product world!?
My step into the architectural product world started when I moved to the UK in August 2015 and started my first employment with a company that manufactured edging material and supplied planters, tiles, and decking products.
I started as a Sales Administrator and was trained within the company to become an Estimator.
My employment ended a couple of weeks before the first Covid lockdown and I was unemployed for almost a year before I started working as an Estimator with APS in October 2020.
What does your role entail?
I measure architectural drawings, process optimisations for board requirements, provide customers with pricing for their cladding projects, and assist them further from receiving an order to delivery of the products.
This is a different sector of the architectural product world from where I began, so I’m still learning something new every day and my education continues!
What’s a key highlight for you?
My colleagues are amazing and they make work-life a pleasure! We also have 2 Directors with a great sense of humour, which helps when we are all under pressure.
And what about outside of work, what are you proud of?
I’ve recently started pewter work as a hobby and have a couple of other “crafty” ideas I’d like to try.
My fiancée and I bought a house a few years ago and are slowly but surely transforming the garden into an oasis!
We’re culminating WICW with two more interviews with key woman in our team. They did have some fun staging these photos! Find out more about Ines and Clare in their interview below.
Clare Taylor, Estimator & Administrator
Tell us about your role with APS. How did it all begin, this step into the architectural product world!?
I started out as a Trainee Estimator then moved onto looking after Downer for a while and now look after estimating & UK project management.
What does your role entail?
Estimating & UK Project Management
What’s a key highlight for you?
The great office environment.
And what about outside of work, what are you proud of?
My bad attempts at Astrophotography & Breeding of various colour mutation Zebra Finches!
Ines Leach, Sales Administrator
Tell us about your role with APS. How did it all begin, this step into the architectural product world!?
I am the Sales Administrator and I took on the role at APS as it seemed a new challenge and the variety of work sounded most interesting.
What does your role entail?
I deal with all Downer sales and quotes and I also organise samples for customers.
What’s a key highlight for you?
The team that I work with
And what about outside of work, what are you proud of?
I am most proud of having passed my glider pilots licence when I was 18!