business success
New female MD is flying high at FSL Aerospace
This month marks a milestone in the history of FSL Aerospace, the Uxbridge company founded in 1985 by Tim Halliday (pictured). Not only does the business celebrate its 30th anniversary this summer, but it‘s when his daughter, Carly Prickett (pictured), takes over as managing director, making her one of the very few women heading an aerospace firm
Prickett joined the business seven years ago in a client services manager role, before moving through the ranks as purchasing manager and going on to take charge of streamlining processes and improving supply chain performance.
The company supplies fasteners and associated products for the aerospace and defence industries, counting GE Aviation, MBDA and Meggitt Avionics among its clients. Activity includes commercial projects, ejectors seats, missiles and aerospace security systems and, with 26 staff, turnover this year is £5.6 million.
From Prickett‘s point of view, the fact she is a woman should make no difference, but she acknowledges that others may not share her view, and she has been a willing participant on Barclays‘ Women in Industry courses.
The relationship between FSL Aerospace and Barclays goes back to the late 1980s, when the bank provided mortgage facilities for a larger warehouse and funded the purchase of new stock. Later, the bank worked closely with the management team to help ensure the business‘s survival during what Halliday calls the ”very difficult” times of the early nineties‘ recession.
Today the relationship is still close, albeit it is now based largely on the provision of guidance rather than financial support.
”Barclays has always been there for us,” said Halliday. ”Good communication is everything and although we don‘t have borrowings with the bank at present, I still send our relationship director Suzanna Heath monthly figures and sales details, ensuring she is in the loop as to how the business is doing.”
It was Heath who suggested Prickett would benefit from attending the Women in Industry courses and afterwards, Prickett said: ”Barclays has been one of my biggest supporters and has been very keen to help me develop as a female MD.
”It is still difficult in this industry, but I would like to be able to conquer that and use my position to help others, by going into schools to talk to young women about careers in industry.”
Barclays is a leading sponsor of the Women in Business Awards, organised every year by The Business Magazine, and Heath commented: ”It has been an absolute delight and privilege to work alongside Tim and now Carly, and to see this successful family business going from strength to strength and to reach this milestone anniversary. I look forward to the next chapter, working with Carly as she takes over as MD and leads the way for Women in Industry.”
Halliday, who retains ownership of the business, says he has total confidence about handing over the reins.
”When Carly first joined us, I said having me as her father had got her in the door, but where she went from there was entirely down to her,” he said. ”Today, I have an overwhelming feeling of trust in her ability, I see the strength and qualities that mean I know she is absolutely the right person for the job.”
Prickett has played a valuable role in spearheading a programme to drive down costs and increase value-added services for clients, including the pursuit of SC21, a change programme specifically for the aerospace and defence industry, which aims to raise supply chain performance.
Combining her strengths in people management
Barclays is a trading name of Barclays Bank PLC and its subsidiaries. Barclays Bank PLC is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (Financial Services Register No 122702). Registered in England. Registered number is 1026167 with registered office at 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP. June 2015.
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The views expressed in this article are the views of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Barclays Bank PLC Group nor should they be taken as statements of policy or intent of the Barclays Bank PLC Group. The Barclays Bank PLC Group takes no responsibility for the veracity of information contained in the third part guides or articles and no warranties or undertakings of any kind, whether express or implied, regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information given. The Barclays Bank PLC Group takes no liability for the impact of any decisions made based on information contained and views expressed.
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – JUNE 2015
and the loyalty of the workforce – which has more than 320 years‘ service between them – the business has established Team Jigsaw, a special taskforce of volunteers from each department who focus on key areas, mapping value streams, identifying where improvements, training and investment in equipment can be made, and welcoming new ideas.
It‘s an approach Prickett knows clearly works, as the focus on achieving Right First Time (quality) and On Time in Full (delivery) has already seen the business gain four successive bronze SC21 awards, and it is on track to achieve silver standard within a year.
”I‘m very fortunate, I love my job,” concluded Prickett. ”This is an extremely well-run company, there are no grand plans to change direction, I just want to get on with driving the business forward and focusing on continuous improvement to ensure we provide our clients with an even better level of service.”
Details:
Carly Prickett 01895-817600
Carly@fslaerospace.co.uk www.fslaerospace.co.uk
Suzanna Heath 07917-200981
suzanna.heath1@barclays.com www.barclays.com
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