To mark this year’s International Women’s Day campaign, we’re shining a spotlight on all of the talented female members of our workforce who’ve helped deliver the Jenx vision over the years.
This includes our Director, Holly, who has been at the helm of the company since taking over the reins from her mum, Catherine, and dad, Clive, in 2017. Meanwhile, our Board currently comprises 50% women, and our Senior Management Team is made up of four men and three women – Holly, Rachel, our Head of Marketing, and Karen, our Head of HR.
Our Director, Holly Jenkins
Our workplace values are aligned with our company values, which are to make a difference to children with postural support needs and support them as they grow. We apply this same outlook to our female workers as we strive to provide them with equal opportunities to succeed in what has always been a traditionally male-dominated industry. (For further insight, read ‘Equal opportunities at Jenx.’)
“Having good female representation at senior level, as well as across our entire organisation, is extremely important to us. In fact, it’s something that’s happened organically over the years,” explains Holly.
“When we recruit new employees, we always look for and choose the best person for the job, regardless of whether they are male or female.
“From the moment they join us, our new team members are provided with the freedom and autonomy to develop into and thrive within their roles. It’s an approach we’re incredibly proud of – it’s received a widespread positive response from our female workers, especially those who are at the very start of their career journey.”
Sewing team leader, Melonie Butler
Providing equal opportunities is deeply rooted within our culture
As a result of our culture, which is centred around providing our employees with a stable and positive place to work, we have several long-standing members of staff, which includes our sewing team leader, Melonie Butler, who has been with us for 18 years.
”If I’d worked somewhere else, I don’t think I’d have been doing this. I don’t think I would have advanced any further. I get all of the support I need to do my job,” she explains.
“As a female team leader, I think I bring a different perspective – I might notice things others may not. I treat everyone the same, whether they’re men or women, and I’m supportive of both the women and men in my team who balance their family life with full-time jobs. People can always come to me if they have any issues.
“It’s also been great to see more women take on jobs at Jenx in otherwise male-dominated areas, in departments like Product Assembly and the Machine Shop.”
Inspiration – for life
Catherine Jenkins with her husband Clive
After 39 years, Catherine took a step back from the day-to-day running of the business in 2021. However, she is still very much a central source of inspiration for Holly and the industry at large, having recently been awarded the CSP Distinguished Service Award for her service to paediatric physiotherapy and the Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists (APCP) in the field of postural management.
“I grew up around the company and living and breathing my mum’s vision – she wanted to make a difference, which naturally rubbed off on me,” says Holly.
“Some of my earliest memories are of me going to work with my mum when she was a physiotherapist. We’d visit children with disabilities and mum would provide them with physio treatment. At the time, I didn’t understand mum’s work or the enormity of the impact she was having on people’s lives; I just looked forward to seeing my friends.
“I’m extremely proud to be following in mum’s footsteps. It’s not easy to keep a successful business going for 40 years, but mum (and dad) managed it. It’s a real honour to build upon her legacy.”
Holly and Catherine Jenkins
Gender equality + ability equality = future vision
As an industry-leader, we’re continuously reviewing and refining our processes to make sure we continue to develop and deliver pioneering postural support solutions. This not only involves embedding gender equality into everything we do, but having an ability equality focus, which is part of our future vision. More details to follow, so watch this space over the coming weeks and months…
For now, in honour of International Women’s Day, we’re rounding off this post by saying a huge thank you to all of the wonderful women who have made Jenx happen over the last 40 years. We appreciate everything you do for us every single day and look forward to continuing to build upon our legacy with you for many years to come.
Now that you’re here, read the second installment in our special International Women’s Day blog series. It reveals how one of our talented members of staff has taken the spotlight and shone it on several female STEM trailblazers from over the decades.
