Name: Julie Merrick
Job title: Executive Assistant
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am 57 (I think I am younger though), I live with my fiancé Tim and daughter Beth, 23. My family have a holiday home near to Rock in Cornwall and love spending time there – we were on Daymer Bay beach on Boxing Day. Most Sundays I watch Beth play football for Coventry. It’s a passion I share with my dad, Gil, who is an eager grandad cheering on from the side line.
Describe your job to a five-year-old.
I look after and manage appointments for our Managing Director (Big Boss) with top customers who buy our bathroom products. I plan travel – flights, hotels and trains. I work with interesting people from all our factories across Europe as well as senior people in our Head Office in Brussels and here in the UK. I plan a big dinner for over 200 people each year to celebrate their working for this company over 25 years.
What do you like most about your job?
It is and always has been a very changing and challenging role – no two days are the same. I am passionate and proud of the company and our bathroom products, proven by how long I have been here. (A very long 39 years – I could write a book!)
How did you get here?
After a nursing course at college, I decided business and commerce was for me. I started in a business admin role, where I did a Secretarial Diploma. (Seems funny looking back, who actually does shorthand now?) and later followed by a two-year Business Finance Diploma. I worked in our Export department for 14 years, with really interesting customers from all over the world and all the different challenges that brings. After I came back from maternity leave, I worked in Operations, working with senior Ops guys based here at Armitage and many others worldwide. At that point we had a world footprint with many sites. Three years ago I was approached with the opportunity to combine two roles, to keep the Operational role, but to also work for our UK MD. After I fell off my chair at the thought of how busy I already was, I accepted the challenge. The main part of my role is working for our MD Stephen Ewer – a role I am proud to do and thoroughly enjoy.
What motivates you?
The health, happiness and success of my family is what motivates me.
I have been fortunate to be able to watch Beth play football for England, as well as Aston Villa, Sheffield United and now Coventry, and to see her graduate from university with a 1st class honours degree in Sports Management, Business and Psychology. I just love spending time with my family including my dad – he is a graphic designer (who worked for Armitage Shanks before retiring). My brother Mike, (Oh and yes he works at Ideal too, Modelling Team Leader), and my sister in law Karen, my niece Lauren. And, of course Tim, who has to put up with our frenetically busy life at home and all the clothes that Beth and I have. All this is my meaning of life.
If you could swap jobs with anyone, who would it be?
An overseas correspondent reporter, or work for a top fashion house. Free clothes…
Your favourite song lyric or line from a film
Music has always been in my bones. Heavy Rock, motown, all sorts. Engelbert Humperdink who I have seen many times is performing in Benidorm next May. I hope to get tickets and I have been trying to persuade my colleague Dawn to come, but she hasn’t agreed – yet. If I had to pick that one spine tingling performance, it would be Touch Me in the Morning, Diana Ross. My mum and I had front row seats. This remains an outstanding memory, perhaps my best concert memory ever, as I lost my mum a few years ago.
Your favourite app?
Ummm, well. Beth helps me with my apps – she thinks I’m a dinosaur. I would probably say WhatsApp and Facebook.
Biggest facepalm moment at work?
My dad was Head of Graphic Design. He used to feature my brother Mike and I on the brochures. Every now and again, an old cupboard is sorted, and one of these brochures falls out.