AROUND TOWN MEETS
“Often I was the only woman in a boardroom full of men and it taught me how to negotiate or how to hone my arguments strongly and be heard.”
In 1995, Julie took over from Paul as Managing Director of Pyronix Limited, while he became CEO and concentrated on the technical and product development side.
While her exterior appeared strong, underneath the surface the cracks were starting to show. Paul left in 1997, leaving Julie to run the business they’d worked in together while raising their three kids aged eight, five and three.
“Being a working mum is one of the hardest jobs in the world. I worked before the children got up for school and once they were in bed. I needed extra help so employed two nannies so I could carry on running the company and attending meetings across the UK and globally.
“It wasn’t just my kids who were depending on me. My staff had families too so I needed to keep going. I had a brilliant team behind me and the business grew from strength to strength.”
Not one to lie down and crumble, Julie bounced back both personally and professionally; she was made the first female president of Rotherham Chamber of Commerce in 1998 following extensive involvement in the business community since becoming a member of Rotherham Training and Enterprise Council in the mid 90s.
Since then, the list of Julie’s roles has become endless – she’s done all sorts to help numerous people in the community.
From being on the board of governors at her children’s school, to offering support to other entrepreneurs through things like the Sheffield City Region local enterprise partnership and as a UK Commissioner for employment and skills; Julie was even once
6
aroundtownmagazine.co.uk
the branch president at NSPCC Sheffield and Hallamshire and is still a director at Sheffield Theatres and the National Coal Mining Museum.
Following the intervention during the 2014 CSE scandal, Julie was appointed by the Secretary of State as a commissioner for Rotherham Council.
“I’ve done a lot of firsts in my time and helped around 30 to 40 different organisations. But I always encourage others to get involved in other things in any way they can. All of my voluntary roles have been worthwhile and I’ve learnt things that I was able to bring back into the business.”
Business continued to flourish with Julie firmly at the helm and
Receiving her CBE with her 3 children
and good friend.
“I’ve always been a risk taker but as I’ve gotten older they have become more calculated risks. Again, I believed in what I was doing and knew it would be successful.”
And as sure as clockwork, it did.
£25million annual turnover.
Clothed in courage and dignity with a humble and down-to-earth persona, Julie has become the epitome of a female boss, inspiring women in business to keep succeeding.
“It wasn’t just my kids who were depending on me. My staff had families too ”
Testimony to this is the many awards that line her fireplace at home, most of which signify the great impact she has had on the industry, not only as a woman but as a business powerhouse.
In 2006, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University, for both her outstanding contributions to industry and improving the life of the region by helping many young people to achieve their potential.
Pyronix became one of the world’s leading manufacturers of security equipment, exporting their products across the globe to 70 countries. Pyronix’s PIRs can be found in residences and commercial properties worldwide, including Catherine’s Palace in St Petersburg, Russia where it is an integral part of the security system installed to protect the palace, particularly the infamous gold-leaf decorated Amber Room built to recreate that which disappeared in WWII.
During its 30th anniversary in 2016, Julie sold the company to Hikvision, a Chinese based video surveillance giant. At that time, Pyronix was generating a
by 2002 she had managed to buy Paul out of the company by remortgaging their home and selling whatever she could to raise the funds – starting out again for the second time.
But as they say, every cloud has a silver lining and in the same year Julie was awarded a CBE for services to industry in Yorkshire and the Humber during the Queen’s Golden Jubilee New Year’s honours list.
When she was 50 she cashed in her pension to buy out the original investors, making her the major shareholder in Pyronix Limited, together with a co-director who had supported Julie through difficult times and had become a close colleague
In the short space of two years from 2012 to 2014, Julie won four business awards: the First Women Awards 2012, Engineering and Manufacturing category; Vitalise Businesswoman of the Year Award 2013; a lifetime achievement award from BSIA in 2013 for 25 years’ service and commitment to changing the landscape of the security industry; and the 2014 Private Business Woman Award.
This January, Julie was also given a unique and first of its kind award at the Northern Power Women Awards – the Special Recognition for Outstanding Entrepreneurship.
“The NPW judges don’t
Standing under a Pyronix PIR at Catherine’s Palace, Tsarskoe Selo, St Petersburg, Russia
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84
