Walpole: What does your role entail, and how long have you been doing it?
Becky Smith: Design expertise is at the heart of Axminster Carpets. As Design Director, I work with clients to bring their vision to life, from high-end residential to commercial projects.
What’s your career background and what makes you passionate about what you do?
I trained at Axminster Carpets with on-the-job training and an GNVQ (General National Vocational Qualification) from the age of 18. I now have 23 years’ experience within the carpet design industry.
I enjoy the challenge of finding creative solutions to help clients. Seeing my designs come to fruition and to see clients so happy with their carpets is such a rewarding experience.
Can you tell us about a woman who you look up to regarding your work?
My mum inspires me because she went back to university in her forties, studying alongside raising three children with support from my dad. My mum has always believed in me and she is so supportive of my career – I would not be in this position without her. I wasn’t academic in school, so a creative role really suited me. I’m also proud to be a good influence on my daughter, Izzy. I am confident that I am showing her a good work ethos.
I am lucky to have good friends around me, and it is so important to be surrounded by people that build you up and make you believe you're capable of anything. Girl power!
What advice would you have to other women following your career path that would have helped you when starting out?
Have the confidence in yourself to just go for it! Be mindful of the importance of the relationships you build and the importance of collaborative working. To me, success is enjoying what you do, having a good work life balance. I so value the great working relationships I have built up over time, with clients that have confidence in my abilities.
