Pat talks to us about her background in the manufacturing industry, her role as director at Rotational Engineering Ltd and her vision for the future of the North Tyneside Business Forum
What’s your role in the NTBF management team?
My involvement in the Business Forum is to represent small businesses within North Tyneside. During my time in business I have experienced several different operational positions which I’ve gained key knowledge from. I’d like to use that knowledge to help the local business community.
I became a member of the management team following our business’ success at the North Tyneside Business Awards. We won the North Tyneside Small Business award in 2001 and 2003. I also personally won International Business Woman of the Year in 2004 and BEXA-UKTI Women in Business in 2006. I think it’s on the strength of these awards that I was asked to join the management team.
Tell us a little more about your background
I’m Pat Davidson and I’m director of Rotational Engineering Ltd. We’re based in Wallsend we provide a variety of specialist steel fabricated pieces to the offshore, construction, emergency services and leisure/hospitality industries.
Our business is currently going through a major change in that our son, Grant Davidson, will be working with us over the next five years to integrate himself into the business and eventually take over the day to day running of all business activities.
Does your role on the team create connections for you in business and indeed in your life outside the Forum?
Being a woman in the manufacturing industry with over 25 years of experience, I know it’s essential to maintain a very good level of communication within the business community. As a member of the management team within the Forum, we can keep up to date with ever-changing business trends, meet with a network of likeminded people. It’s fantastic to be able to discuss not only our personal barriers, but those further afield too.
In addition, the changes our own business is going through at the moment mean that we’re facing unfamiliar challenges. Being part of the management team on the Forum means that we have a network of experts around us who have experienced similar transitions. These connections can put us in touch with relevant individuals or organisations that will not only benefit our business but hopefully the local business community too.
This role is invaluable for us as a small business. We get to be involved in a variety of different events and benefit from the connection and individuals who are part of this team.
I’m also linked with the North East Chamber of Commerce, the Wallsend Chamber and the British Plastics Federation which means I have a fantastic network to benefit our own business as well as other businesses in the area via my work with the Forum management team.
How do you see the Forum developing in the future?
I’d like to see the Forum becoming more and more popular with small business that are looking for additional help or support. Smaller businesses don’t necessarily have the time to do everything themselves so having the Forum around to help with support, advice and training would be invaluable. With such a wide range of experience with the Forum, I believe we are well equipped to offer our own personal strands of experience to help other businesses.
