Getting To Know You – with Sarah Monk

In the latest edition of Aycliffe Business, we sat down with Aycliffe Business Park Community board member and Edwin Group chief strategy officer, Sarah Monk…

Name: Sarah Monk
Position: Chief strategy officer
Company/organisation: The Edwin Group and board member for Aycliffe Business Park Community
Age: 50
From: Newton Aycliffe
Lives: Darlington

1: What was your favourite subject at school?
A: English – I went to The Avenue Comprehensive at a time when the school had falling pupil numbers and was set to close. There was an English supply teacher who was superb, she literally got us all through our GCSEs. She definitely inspired and encouraged a love of English in the process.

2: Who was your childhood hero, and why?
A: My dad. He’s my adult hero, too! He’s the calmest, coolest, most wonderful guy who worked on the business park at Bakelite, 3M and Perstorp for nearly all of his career. He studied at night class while working full-time with a young family and set a great example.

3: How did you get to where you are now?
A: My mam and dad were incredible, always encouraging and supporting – they really believed in the value of a good education. From a work perspective I think working alongside and being encouraged and supported by some incredible mentors and role models. One in particular is Dame Dela Smith who was the CEO at Darlington Education Village when I worked there and is a close friend to this day. Dela has been an incredible leadership role model to me and many others.

4: Which is your favourite organisation on Aycliffe Business Park and why (excluding your own)?
A: I really love all of the education providers that live on the park. From UTC South Durham to South West Durham Training and Forest Park School along with many others. I think it is so powerful to have business and education living alongside each other.

5: Which Aycliffe business or individual do you tip for future success?
A: Shameless plug, but my brother Paul Hind left his role as plant manager at 3M earlier this year to set up his own business, Amplified Leaders – providing workshops on safety and leadership to manufacturing businesses. He has such a great standing in the sector I think he will make it a great success

6: What’s the best business decision you ever made?
A: The best decision although it was a hard one was leaving the public sector to set up my own business back in 2009. It was scary at the time, but it was 100% the best business decision.

7: What’s the worst decision you’ve ever made?
A: That’s hard – I like to think I learn from decisions so even if they have seemed bad at the time they end up being good eventually.

8: If you could change one thing about your organisation, what would it be?
A: At The Edwin Group we work with about 6,000 schools nationally – I think we do a really important and valuable job, so I’d like us to triple the number we work with and therefore broaden our impact in the next 3-5 years.

9: Are you an early riser or a night owl?
A: Usually an early riser, to get to work.

10: What is your business mantra?
A: Do the right thing. Behave well, act with integrity and honesty.

11: What advice would you give to a small startup?
A: Find your niche, truly excel at it, understand your numbers, look after your people, look after your clients, then scale. The rest will follow.

12: What does the future look like for you?
A: I love the voluntary NED work I do, including ABPC as well as chairing the finance committee for Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust which covers County Durham, Darlington, Stockton and Hartlepool. In time I would like to do more, but for now I’m very focussed on my role at Edwin – it’s my full-time hobby!

13: What does the future look like for your organisation?
A: Hugely exciting. We don’t currently have a base on the business park (it’s on the list!) but we have clients on the park, in Newton Aycliffe and all of the surrounding areas.

14: What would you say to the Prime Minister if you saw him on Aycliffe Business Park?
A: Let’s get education and business collaborating properly and make a real impact. Allocate some funding to the Aycliffe Business Park Community and we will make a difference in achieving this – just look at the brilliant Business Safaris we have ran. We could do so much more but as a team of volunteers we really need to be properly funded by government.

15: Which is your favourite local charity?
A: Missed a Beat – Mark Preston is doing a fabulous job.

16: Which is your favourite local restaurant?
A: I love The County – I think Michael and the team do a brilliant job.

17: What would be your ideal evening meal?
A: Anything at all but ideally with friends or family.

18: What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: I don’t have a lot of spare time, so I do like to plan holidays and have time to completely unwind.

19: What is your favourite film, and who is your favourite actor?
A: Brad Pitt is my favourite actor. I loved him in Legends of the Fall.

20: What would you like to see more of?
A: I’d like to see more young people and adults with SEND being supported in the workplace. People like Tracy Fee at hiyed.co.uk do an incredible job, but I think there is more employers can do to develop their understanding. Schools have a role to play here, too.