10 in 10: Amanda Speight

Amanda Speight is National Business Development Manager at Barrowford-based LED lighting manufacturer CFE Lighting.

She is the latest regional business professional in the hot seat as The Yorkshire, Lancashire & Cumbria Times gives her just 10 minutes to answer our 10 burning questions.

What does a typical working day for you involve?

No two days are ever the same, which is something I particularly love about my role with CFE Lighting, a company that manufactures and supplies bespoke LED luminaires and lighting solutions for the commercial, industrial, and public sectors.

I tend to start at 7am when I’ll respond to any new emails, before spending some time on LinkedIn checking new updates and connecting with old and new contacts. I’ve worked in the lighting industry for over 35 years, during which time I’ve made a lot of contacts, and I find LinkedIn is great for keeping in touch with everyone and providing professional help and support where I can.

Following this, I’ll check in with my team, often through a video call, to run through the projects and opportunities that we currently have on and discuss and agree next steps and actions.

In the afternoon, it’s not unusual to find me working on a new business tender or conducting a site survey to better understand a prospect’s needs and requirements. Site surveys are something I particularly enjoy doing and there has never been a time when I haven’t been able to identify opportunities for a customer to save money – and up to 75% of their energy usage - through improving their lighting and control systems.

I’m also heavily involved in the marketing of the business and our products, and at any given point you might find me working on our product catalogue or managing a complete refresh of our website which recently went live.

What makes your company special?

Despite being a relatively new name in the lighting industry, CFE Lighting has built a strong reputation for quality, using the very best components and partners, and manufacturing all products here in the UK at our state-of-the-art Barrowford facility. We believe in supporting the local community through the utilisation of respected local companies for their metal fabrication, powder coating, sundry supplies and packaging, and everything we produce is bespoke, with products designed and tailored to perfectly meet client requirements and needs. We manufacture and supply both standard and bespoke LED luminaires, providing lighting solutions for every business need across a range of sectors, including food and beverage production, schools, colleges and hospitals.

The can-do, supportive culture we have in place at CFE Lighting is also special. It brings out the very best in our people and makes the company a great place to work, with the business continually investing in its people and technologies in order to ensure our products and services remain innovative and industry-leading.

Do you have any business rules that you swear by?

I have a few which are reflected in the company’s values. I’ll always stay positive and motivated to succeed, regardless of the challenge. I also put a huge amount of emphasis on operating with complete integrity and respect, treating everyone as you would expect to be treated and always being honest and accountable.

Do you dress up or down for work?

A typical day will often include site visits and client calls, so typically I’ll dress professionally, and you’ll usually find me wearing the company’s branded clothing.

What piece of advice would you give your 18-year-old self?

Never stop learning. Regardless of your age and experience, there is always more to learn, so make sure you take advantage of every opportunity, whether that’s learning from those around you or soaking up knowledge through books and TV.

What’s your favourite Yorkshire or Lancashire venue for an event or team away day?

It would have to be York races. Their corporate entertainment is second-to-none and it combines two of my favourite things, horse racing and socialising. The atmosphere is always fantastic and it’s a great environment to get to know people away from work.

How do you prefer to travel for business?

By car for the sheer convenience. I regularly visit clients and prospects all over the UK and I’ll often have samples with me, so going by car works best for me, wherever and whenever possible.

What your favourite place to relax?

My allotment in Mirfield. I’ve had it for a number of years now and I love nothing more than getting down there for the peace and quiet and an opportunity to plant and grow my own fruit and veg. I’ve had some bumper yields in recent years and it’s always nice to give away the fruit of my labours to family and friends, who always appreciate it.

Where is your favourite place to eat and what dish do you recommend?

I’d have to say Casa in Brighouse. It boasts stunning views overlooking the picturesque Cromwell Lake and the food and atmosphere is always fantastic. Whenever I go with friends, we like to order a variety of smaller, tapas-style dishes and share them between us, although I can heartily recommend the pizzas which are out of this world.

What do you miss most about Yorkshire when you’re away?

The friendliness of Yorkshire folk. It’s commonly remarked upon but that’s because it’s so true. I never cease to be amazed – and heartened – by the friendliness of people in this region, they can’t do enough for each other and I think that’s an amazing trait we can be proud about in Yorkshire.