Find more about Rachel Smith, our General Manager for Polypipe Underfloor Heating.
What is your current role and how long have you been doing it?
I’m currently General Manager for Polypipe Underfloor heating. I’ve been in the role just 6 months now.
What does your role entail?
I am responsible for leading the UFH division, managing the team to deliver the business vision for growth and development, working alongside my colleagues, to plan and implement our long-term division strategy.
How did you get started in this industry?
My first role in the industry was for a Ductile Iron pipe manufacturer in the customer service team, supporting both UK merchants and Export partners – this was a lifetime ago! I soon progressed into Product Management and then Marketing Communications roles for the same organisation. By combining these two elements I started as Marketing Manager for Polypipe Civils in 2004.
What roles were you doing before and how did they prepare you for this one?
My role immediately prior to this one was as Head of Marketing for Polypipe Building Products.
I’ve been lucky enough to get involved across a variety of strategic initiatives which has seen me be responsible for the creation and development of new sector initiatives – such as Polypipe Water Management Solutions.
My last role as Head of Marketing for Polypipe Building Products allowed me to engage with a number of key stakeholders to help understand the wants and needs of our customers, both direct (the Plumbing and Heating merchants) and our end users – Heating Engineers, Installers – and ultimately homeowners.
What would you like to achieve in your new role?
To de-mystify underfloor heating. People thing it’s some kind of ‘dark art’ and while it is true that a level of technical know-how is required, underfloor heating provides a warm and inviting environment for both homes and businesses.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Blimey! There are a couple of stand-out moments for me, returning to Polypipe after working elsewhere for two years – it felt like coming home. Winning the Marketing Team of the Year Award in 2015 at the Construction Marketing Awards – I pride myself on building high-performance teams and having just formed the team a few short months prior to winning, having our work recognised by the industry was an amazing feeling.
What do you see as the main issues for builders’ merchants and the industry at the moment?
I think sustainability is going to be a key issue. Initiatives like the London Plan and Green infrastructure will play a big part in the construction sector in the coming years. As consumers, we are becoming ever more demanding, we live in a society where everything is ‘instant’ – builders merchants need to think about the challengers of meeting the demand of this culture.
If you could go back to the start of your career, what piece of advice would you give yourself?
Don’t be frightened to take advice from others, nobody has all the answers. And do what you love – then you never work a day in your life.
What keeps you busy at the weekends?
Mainly my family. I have a nine-year-old daughter who has discovered her mum’s passion for shopping, coffee and cake! Last summer we bought a touring caravan and have spent many a happy weekend in the Norfolk countryside – although we’ve not risked putting up the awning yet, referred to by my more seasoned caravan friends as ‘divorce in a bag’!
What’s your favourite book? Favourite film?
I love a good read; favourite authors include Ian Rankin (anything Rebus) and Lee Child. Film wise, it’s not a favourite because it’s particularly good but I love ‘All of Me’ by Steve Martin – purely for the fact that it reminds me of when I lived in New York as a teenager.
If you could be a superhero, what super-power would you choose?
I’d like to be able to fly – I hate conventional flying but love seeing the world, so this would be perfect for me.
