Pictured above: Julie White
The boss of a Coventry company is cutting down barriers after
becoming the first woman to be appointed to the board of a
professional organisation for drillers and sawers.
Julie White, managing director of Shilton-based diamond drilling
and sawing specialists D-Drill, has accepted a position on the
board of directors of The Drilling and Sawing Association.
The association, based in Nottingham, was established in 1984
and has over 100 members across the country.
Julie said she felt she could make a difference in an industry
which continues to be male dominated.
"It needs new people on the board and younger members who are
rare in The Drilling and Sawing Association," she said.
"We need to prove to people that are not members that it is
worth their while being part of the organisation.
"The apprenticeship scheme which they have introduced has been
really important.
"Even through the recession which many businesses have found
really hard, I didn't want to cut back on training because it is so
important for drilling and sawing companies.
"I have an ageing workforce and by investing in people now I am
ensuring my business can survive in the future.
"If I had stopped sending my staff on the apprenticeship scheme
during the two-and-a-half years of the recession it would have
affected me now. My workers wouldn't be trained to the highest
standard and it also encourages commitment to D-Drill because we
have invested in their training."
Joel Vinsant, secretary of The Drilling and Sawing Association,
said Julie fully deserved her position on the board.
He said: "Julie has been pro-active in the industry for a number
of years and fully deserves her place on the board.
"We want the association to have new blood with people who have
fresh ideas to take the association forward with different
approaches and with Julie's involvement we can only go from
strength to strength.
"She has been really enthusiastic about encouraging the two-year
apprenticeship scheme we started six years ago which is vital to
train the next generation in this specialist industry.
"It is important for people coming into this sphere to gain
vocational and practical training and D-Drill has had 20
apprentices complete the course which highlights Julie's commitment
to providing her workforce with the best possible skills."