Meet Our Company Director - Jayne Craven

To celebrate International Women's Day, I sat down with Jayne Craven , Director of MEPS, to discuss the company's approach to supporting and promoting women in the workplace.

Shashank - "How do you prioritise and encourage the professional development of women within our company, and what role do you play in supporting their advancement?"

Jayne - "At MEPS, we are fortunate that women in senior positions are not a minority. As a director of the company, I represent a structure that values women in the workplace. We understand the challenges of balancing career and caring responsibilities and are proud to support all of our staff in achieving a healthy work-life balance. At MEPS, we value everyone's opinion and nurture strong, confident women."

Shashank - "How do you balance the needs of individual team members, including women, with the overall goals of the company, and what strategies have you found most effective in doing so?"

Jayne - "As a family business, we hold family values dear and have a culture of creating an even playing field for everyone. Diversity and inclusion are important aspects of our business, and we view everyone as an individual with their own unique abilities and contributions to offer. Our flexible working policy allows all staff members to balance their individual home circumstances, creating an equal platform for women and men."

Shashank - "In what ways have you seen our company become more inclusive and welcoming to women during your time as a leader, and what progress do you hope to see in the future??"

Jayne - "Traditionally, our office operated on a Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm schedule. However, we have since implemented flexible working options, including a home working policy and the ability to adjust work hours around non-work commitments. We also provide paid time off for appointments and a system of Time off in Lieu. These policies are open to everyone, regardless of gender, and foster inclusivity within the workplace. As a result, women feel comfortable using these policies when needed. We continually monitor staff feedback and aim to improve our policies as necessary."

Shashank - "How do you foster a collaborative and innovative work environment that empowers women to share their ideas and perspectives, and what benefits have you seen as a result?"

Jayne - "We encourage collaboration through working groups that invite all members with an invested interest to express their opinions. We promote positive working relationships through training, team building and social events. These efforts create a relaxed environment where everyone feels comfortable discussing their ideas and thoughts with colleagues. This approach benefits all members of staff, including directors. We believe that providing a level playing field for all, regardless of race, gender, age or religion, allows everyone to reach their potential."

Shashank - "In what ways does your leadership style prioritise and promote a healthy work-life balance, particularly for working mothers and other women in the workplace??"

Jayne - "As a director, I have an open-door policy. While we develop staff to be independent and empowered decision-makers, I am always available to support them in the event of a personal emergency, regardless of the time of day or my location. I believe that it is my responsibility to enable staff to work effectively and to be the best version of themselves."

Shashank - "How do you see women's leadership evolving within our company and the industry as a whole, and what steps are you taking to ensure that our company remains at the forefront of this progress?"

Jayne - "MEPS is already progressive within the industry, with a higher-than-average number of women working within the steel market, and many holding senior positions. Although we have seen growth in the number of women in the sector over recent years, it still lags behind other industries. We welcome this growth and hope to see further progress in the future."

This interview was conducted by Shashank Singh