Women in Fencing

Sandra Simpson

Amy Edwards

Amy, an important cog within our Industrial wheel, loves the variety that working within the fencing industry brings to her day-to-day job. Within her role, she has a great opportunity to build new and existing customer relationships and has been doing so as part of the Sales team since November 2021. The work she completes is invaluable to the business and for any of our customers who are lucky enough to liaise with Amy, they can expect only the best customer service.

Jessica Burns

Learning & Development Co-Ordinator/HR admin.

Jess joined Littlewood Group after previously working in teleradiology, where long night and weekend shifts made it difficult to maintain a healthy work–life balance. Moving into the fencing industry offered a new career path and a more family-friendly routine, allowing her to better balance work and home life.

In her role, Jess supports the development of the workforce by coordinating training, maintaining employee records, and assisting with onboarding and HR administration. After welcoming her daughter last January, she returned from maternity leave on a part-time basis, supported by the business to ensure a smooth transition back to work.

Keen to continue developing professionally, Jess is currently completing her CIPD Level 3 qualification, which she has resumed following maternity leave to further strengthen her HR knowledge and skills.

Jess says: “The move into the fencing industry has given me the opportunity to build a career that works around my family while continuing to learn and develop. The support I’ve received has made a real difference, and I’m proud to be part of such a welcoming industry.”

Tornado Wire

Rebecca Galley

Rebecca joined Tornado Wire as CEO in 2024, bringing with her over 20 years’ experience leading UK manufacturing businesses. She is passionate about building strong teams, doing the right thing for customers, and playing an active role in encouraging more women to build careers in the fencing and manufacturing industries.

Manjinder Kaur Karwal

Manjinder joined Tornado Wire in February 2025 as Marketing Executive, and just under one year later was promoted to Marketing Manager. With over 13 years of experience across both traditional and digital marketing, she brings a wealth of industry knowledge and strategic insight to the business. Passionate about elevating the Tornado Wire brand, Manjinder leads the company’s marketing activity across the UK and European markets.

Sarah Tuck – Logistics Co-ordinator / Team Leader

Sarah works in the stores office and manages all the logistics and dispatching of Tornado orders across the UK, Ireland, Europe, and the USA. She has been with us for over 9 years and is a well respected and valued member of the team.

Alyssa Blackford

Alyssa is currently completing her Level 3 Multi‑Channel Marketing apprenticeship and has been part of Tornado for six months. With a strong passion for social media and digital content, she chose an apprenticeship to gain hands‑on experience and develop her marketing skills.

Sandra Sleep – Machine Operator

Sandra was Tornados first female machine operator. She has been with us for 20 years and has worked her way up the training grades, she is an inspiration to all her colleagues at Millom.

Hannah Troughton – Production and Manufacturing Apprentice

Hannah has recently joined our team as an apprentice. She decided to start an apprenticeship in Production and Manufacturing with us as she wanted something more hands on and felt this pathway would open more opportunities for her in the future. “Being offered this apprenticeship and the chance to learn loads of different skills is an amazing experience.”

Siddall & Hilton

Hi, I’m Violet Parker, a Technical Trainee at Siddall & Hilton Products Ltd. I’ve been part of the team for six months now, and I’m quickly learning that there’s always something new to discover-which is one of the things I love most about the role. Siddall & Hilton truly stands out as a company that puts its people and customers first, creating an environment where learning and growth are genuinely encouraged.

Outside of work, you’ll most likely find me under a car or pushing myself at the gym. Engineering and fitness have always been strong passions of mine, and it’s been great to connect with others across the company who share similar interests
—it definitely helps build strong working relationships. Looking to the future, my goal is simple: to keep learning, progressing, and making the most of every opportunity within Siddall & Hilton.

Wendy Lawton

Wendy, our esteemed North West Regional Manager overseeing our Chester branch, boasts an impressive tenure of 37 years with Jacksons. Beginning her journey in our admin department at the Ashford branch, Wendy’s dedication and perseverance propelled her through the ranks, culminating in her current pivotal role.

A testament to family dedication, Wendy’s sister, Caroline, serves as our production planner at the Ashford branch, contributing her own 26 years of invaluable experience to the company.

Wendy’s breadth of knowledge and expertise extends beyond mere management; she actively advises both retail and commercial clients on their fencing needs, be it timber garden fencing or metal security fencing. Her guidance not only bolsters the success of our North West branch but also ensures that customers across her region receive premium, long-lasting products tailored to their requirements. Wendy’s enduring commitment remains foundational to both her team and the communities they serve.

Agi Szymik

Despite only joining the company four months ago, Agi is an integral part of our Industrial Engineering Team, where she translates a customer brief into an approval drawing. Whilst doing this, an important part of her journey at IAE Industrial has been to ask lots of questions to help her acquire the product knowledge she needs to deliver her projects successfully.

Agi has thrown herself into the world of fencing and has been enjoying doing so since day one! Her favourite part of the job is creating drawings, especially of designs she has not done before as it is a great feeling when you turn a customer’s concept into a reality.

Roocroft Road Restraint Systems

Roocroft Road Restraints celebrate the women in their business who make up over 40% of the Management team and give great support over a wide range of activities. Of the last 3 management appointments and new people coming into the business, 2 of them were women and this was based on their abilities and what they can contribute to Roocroft`s long term strategic goals and business objectives.

Jayne, the Office Manager has been with the company for 10 years and deals with all the company’s training needs, vehicle documentation and HR processes, she manages and often takes up additional work over and above her usual daily activities and has recently become a mental health first aider within the company.

Alison, Construction Administrator has been with Roocroft’s for over 2 years and has brought a wealth of knowledge over different departments within the company, and has successfully completed the Transport managers course, and updated and helped to secure the FORS accreditation last year and taking the lead on it in the current year. She has been instrumental in the roll out of a new system process within the business and is always on hand helping others with her IT skills and knowledge.

Charlotte, Trainee Construction Manager who has been in the industry for 2 years, having returned to Roocroft after completing a graduate scheme. Her work encompasses multi-disciplines, including project management and procurement. She is focused on continuous improvement and self-development and seeks to get the best results from both herself and the team. She has recently completed the SMSTS course and has been nominated to take part in the Aspiring leaders Roads academy program with one of our key clients National Highways.

“The women in our business make a real difference and deserve all the praise that is lavished upon them and as they are an integral part of the Management Team as they continue to perform to their high standards and work ethics and they genuinely look after each other continuing to inspire, lead, and make a difference.”

Louise Wright

Director

“I fell into fencing through marrying a fencer! After graduating, I was an agricultural adviser across Lincolnshire however when we decided to start a family, working in Front Row gave me the flexibility to work around childcare. I do the accounts, payroll, paperwork etc and visit customers for giving quotations.

I think gender equality in fencing and agriculture in general has improved hugely since I started out twenty years ago. Customers and suppliers are a lot more accustomed to dealing with women and as a result, I haven’t experienced any blatant sexism for some years. I’m not a fierce feminist, it’s all about playing to your strengths and mine isn’t hauling heavy posts across muddy fields (although I do my bit when I can!).

I enjoy dealing with people and it’s great to see a project completed with a happy customer at the end of it. We have a great team with us which helps enormously. Through fencing competitions and online groups, we have met some fabulous fellow fencing contractors with whom we have been involved in some really rewarding projects to help others. It’s a cracking industry to be involved in with a network of genuine, supportive people.”

I.P. Jones Fencing Contractors

Kelsay Jones – Finance Director
When Kelsay met Ian Jones in 1991, their very first romantic date included a trip to his accountant to drop off an old biscuit box of invoices and spike full of receipts; the writing was on the wall and the rest is history. From those early days, Kelsay began to learn from scratch how to balance the books.
As Finance Director, Kelsay has been an integral part of IPJ’s journey; from one man with a wheelbarrow, a spade, and a dream, to 50 plus installers, delivering over one hundred million pounds of work across the nation.
As co-founder of IP Jones Fencing Contractors Ltd, Kelsay finds that the juggle of growth, development, investment, and keeping the company viable, sustainable, and with the same core family values that her and Ian founded the company on, can be a challenge…. but one that she enjoys.
With fairness always at heart, Kelsay is a champion of her staff; always ready to motivate, look after, but keep in line. As the only woman in the company for many years, and as one of only a few within the fencing industry as a whole, Kelsay now has a team of amazing ladies that help her to keep the wheels of fencing industry turning.

Laura Oxley – Accounts Manager
Laura has been an integral part of I.P. Jones since 2019, working alongside Kelsay in the accounts department. She began her role working in purchase ledger and carrying out odd admin and support jobs in the office. Her hard work and meticulous attention to detail have led her to build her career with I.P. Jones, becoming the office Accounts Manager in recent years. Her responsibilities cover the purchase and sales ledger duties, as well as vital support to the QS team where she sets up jobs, formulates variation estimates, and contributes to inputting jobs for billing.
Laura has also been studying part time at university for the past 7 years, and recently graduated with a BSc in Natural Science, with a focus on Environmental Sciences. She has put her degree to immediate use taking on the responsibility of heading up I.P. Jones’ sustainability efforts alongside Lynne. They are both currently working towards implementing a sustainable development plan for the business, aiming to improve the environmental impact at every step of the company’s processes, from supply chain to our practices around the office.
Laura is looking forward to seeing what the future holds for her career at I.P. Jones, as she continues to be an asset in the world of fencing, along with the other amazing women she works with.

Lynne Cowburn – Health and Safety Coordinator
Lynne has been an invaluable part of I.P. Jones for over 20 years. Lynne became an IPJ team member almost accidentally, following a casual job enquiry with close family friends & neighbours Ian & Kelsay, after redundancy from a previous job as a technical designer. Very quickly Lynne’s role evolved and grew ; what started as an informal admin stop gap, soon became a permanent, specialised and integral role within the company.
Initially, Lynne developed the technical side of the business alongside Ian, with the introduction of CAD. For further company growth and development, in 2011 Lynne completed a NEBOSH General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety, to enable I.P. Jones to have internal legislative understanding and coordination, alongside their external Health & Safety consultant. This was the start of her journey into her role as Health & Safety Coordinator, working alongside the Directors, Management and Operatives, to drive forward safe working practices and attitudes within the industry. Lynne has been the driving force behind I.P. Jones achieving accreditation with SSIP members, CHAS, SMAS & CQMS and acquiring Gold Contructionline Membership.
As a primary member of the family run business, Lynne has a vast amount of knowledge and understanding of the fencing industry and has been involved in many of the diverse areas that manage I.P Jones’ ongoing development and that have been vital to its success. Lynne is a hugely respected member of the IPJ team by both office staff and lads on site ( even if they are a little scared of her)

Corden Group

Christine Morrison
I’m really proud to shine a spotlight on Christine and the incredible impact she’s had in the fencing industry over the past 25 years. She’s widely known and respected for her knowledge, professionalism, and the way she always puts customers first — something that’s recognised right across the industry.

Christine has worked with me at The Corden Group for nearly 12 years, and she continues to be an invaluable part of our team. She’s reliable, supportive, and always goes the extra mile to make sure customers get exactly what they need, when they need it. That dedication is a huge part of why she continues to go from strength to strength.

What I admire most about Christine is how she’s built such a successful career in what has traditionally been a male-dominated industry. While things may be improving today, I can only imagine the challenges she’s faced over the years — and overcome — with determination, resilience, and professionalism.

And while Christine might not be the first person you’d call to fix an IT issue (we’ve learned this the hard way!), you can’t be good at everything. What she is exceptional at is her depth of industry knowledge, her commitment to customers, and the respect she’s earned throughout the years. I’m genuinely proud to have Christine as part of The Corden Group team, and she more than deserves the recognition.