We are Building Systems UK

Under the spotlight:

Debbie Jone, Internal business and market communications manager, Building Systems UK

Below you can find out about my role within the business and read about how I have spent my whole working life in steel.

Alternatively, maybe you would like to find more about how I was once a singer in an indie band and ended up with three Dachsunds?

What is your role at Building Systems UK and what does it entail?

I work at Building Systems UK, a Tata Steel enterprise, my role is ‘Internal business and market communications manager’.

This is a new position that has been created within the business and market development team, focussing on internal communications, and engaging with employees. I work to ensure everyone is kept informed internally regarding the strategy and vision of the business.

I also lead (along with our Health & Wellbeing Champions) the Health and Wellbeing strategy for Building Systems UK.

What is your background and how did your career path bring you to Building Systems UK?

My whole working life has been at British Steel, Corus and now Building Systems UK, a Tata Steel enterprise.

I started with the business in 1988 on a youth training scheme in administration. Two years later, I was taken on as an employee in the quality control department. For around six years I worked in this department in an administration role. It was during this time, I decided I wanted to pursue further education and achieved several qualifications on my way to gaining a degree, which I did, a BA (Hons) in Business Studies and a PGDip in Marketing.

I was able to study on a day release and couple of evenings a week (in Liverpool John Moores University) which was kindly supported by the business.

What are you most proud at having achieved at Building Systems UK so far?

Earlier in my career I was based in the customer service department as a customer service rep. While working in this role I realised there was an opportunity to make improvements to the department and subsequently was appointed to the position of Customer Service Manager.

I was able to implement a new structure with team leaders managing pods of teams, improving workflows and processes with the focus on providing high quality customer service.

I see the customer service rep role as being one of the hardest in the business. They are the ‘cogs that keep the wheels turning’.

What projects or innovations most excite you for the future?

I think our new initiative around Optemis™ Carbon Lite low CO₂ product range is very exciting and our work towards carbon neutral steel production is of great importance.

In the new business development team, we are working hard to promote the Building Systems UK business – the construction ‘arm’ of Tata Steel UK.

I think this is critical to achieving Tata Steel’s goals that we bring the innovative and forward-thinking attitude of Building Systems UK into the market.

What is something about the steel industry that might surprise people?

I think there is a perception that the steel industry just makes steel. In reality, we manufacture and sell a variety of products for many different markets including steel products for cars or as Building Systems UK our cladding and decking building products to end users.

Most people are not aware that Tata Steel has facilities at several locations within the UK.

How do you see the built environment changing for the better?

I think that all the work around reducing carbon in manufacturing is bringing great environmental benefits and can only have a positive effect.

There is a huge drive to improve efficiency in buildings, particularly regarding modular construction and I see this becoming more and more relevant within the industry.

What hobbies and activities do you enjoy outside work?

I have three Dachshunds and they have been my work colleagues over the last three years while I’ve been working from home. Our Dachshund Poppy had six puppies, the plan was always to keep a companion for her, a boy.

I was really involved during the birth helping and looking after Poppy, unfortunately, one of the puppies was weaker and needed a bit of help from me, she survived, and we had a strong bond, she wasn’t going anywhere so we ended up with 3 beautiful dogs.

The other 3 dogs are with family and friends and we keep in contact with all of them. They are great characters, we have our hands full but they bring us a lot of pleasure and are very spoilt. We have a caravan on the coast in Pwllheli and enjoy spending time with the dogs and family there.

If you could do another job in another industry, what would it be?

I would love to have a business, spending time making and restoring furniture in my own workshop.

‘Upcycling’ furniture is something I’ve always enjoyed, and I’d really like to be able to do more of this, it would allow me to express and use my creative side.

What’s a fun fact about you that people may not know?

I used to be a singer in an indie band!

There were four members in the band, me and three lads, and we wrote all our own material, we had quite a little local following!