ACR Journal

ACR industry Diane J Drummond is managing director of Glasgow-based air conditioning and ventilation contractor B-DACS Ltd. 2003, as this was my husband’s company, so we decided I would assist for a short period of time. This was 10 years ago, and we have seen growth year on year, apart from 2020 when Covid hit. What does your current role involve? I have a helicopter view of the business and ensure that all departments are keeping on track. I ensure that our financial position is stable and our targets are being achieved. I manage the forward planning of the businesses, keeping objectives on track. Our people are at the heart of our business so training and reward is high on my agenda. I have developed and implemented our own in-house training academy levelled at an SCQF level 7 qualification. I also like to attract people from different sector as they add real value and see things differently. What attracted you to the industry? To be very honest Brian already had the business and I just came in to assist after I left the bank. I love running the business, seeing employees flourish and delivering excellent service to all our clients. What excites/interests you about the industry? I love the fact that more women are being recognised withing the Industry and as learning and development is a What was your first job? My first job was a sales assistant in Dolcis shoes in Frasers department store in Glasgow. I worked there whilst still at school and was offered a pat-time job. Much to my parents’ dissatisfaction, I left school at 17 with 4 O Levels and 1 higher and off I went to work in the retail sector. I only worked part-time for one week before being offered full time. After a few months I was promoted to become the youngest supervisor in the company at the time. I stayed in the retail sector until 1999 when I moved in to financial services, working for Lloyds Banking Group. I started there as a team leader, running a team of telephone advisors, and eventually became a senior learning and development manager before taking voluntary redundancy in 2012. This is when I started with B-DACS. I had been a director since December 2022 | January 2023 30 WOMEN IN ACR Volume 9 No.1 Diane J Drummond