Hello Natalie, thank you for chatting with us. Let us start by asking a bit about your journey at DK Holdings.
“I started in 2015 as Production Assistant within our Form Wheels department where I was involved in both setting up and plating the tools. From there, I moved across a number of sections and was involved in the manufacture of our Diamond routers amongst others.
In July 2024, I was promoted to chargehand, which is quite a milestone as I was the first woman to do so in over 30 years.
It took some time to get used to overseeing several sections at once. Juggling multiple responsibilities allowed me to learn new aspects of the company and how every department interlinks.“
What do you enjoy the most in your role?
“Being in the Electroplating department here at DK Holdings is a very multi-faceted role. We receive blanks from our Machining workshop and then are very much involved to the end of the tools’ journey. We plate continuous rim saws of up to 980 mm, down to twist drills of 3.5mm diameter, no day is ever the same!“
What has changed over the years since you joined the Electroplating department?
“One of the main changes is that staff are now transferred internally, which is excellent as it allows you to learn new skills, work with other teams, and get to know them better.“
You recently attended a Leadership & Management Training. What have you taken away from this?
“I really enjoyed attending this course alongside some of my colleagues from different teams at DK. I now have a better understanding of the team leader aspect of my role and am trying to apply the tools and philosophies we discussed.
It was also interesting to hear from other participants working in different industries about their challenges and how they overcame them.“
Complete this sentence: “People might be surprised to know that I…”
“…hold a brown belt in kickboxing. It always surprises people when I mention my passion for kickboxing. It is one of those sports where you switch off from everything else and fully focus on your opponent. I am also a bit of a foodie and often combine my holidays with destinations where I can enjoy good food!“