Today we’re celebrating International Women’s Day! At Spectrum, we are proud to have an all-female senior team in an industry that can be very male-dominated. We’re delighted to have a diverse team of excellent individuals across our departments, both female and male, each playing an important part in Spectrum’s success. Join us this International Women’s Day as we chat with Sara Speirs, Managing Director, on her role, motivations and inspirations.

 

Please introduce yourself and your role…

 

“My name is Sara Speirs and I am the Managing Director of Spectrum Service Solutions.”

 

What does an average day look like for you?

 

“Every day is different, from working with the various teams in the office to meeting new clients across a range of industries. My role also requires travelling between the different Regional Offices in Paisley, Aberdeen and Edinburgh on a regular basis. We opened the Aberdeen and Edinburgh offices last year, so it’s a very exciting time for the company as we expand across Scotland and beyond.”

 

What’s your favourite part of your role?

 

“I find it really interesting to work with so many different types of companies, supporting them and seeing behind the scenes, from distilleries, manufacturing to scientific facilities. There’s so much variety and I take pride in our team keeping sites clean and safe for everyone. The events side of the business is also very exciting. We will be working at a number of popular sporting, music and charity events over the Summer, and we’re currently putting in the final preparations for these as the busy events season commences soon. I also enjoy meeting all kinds of people, building relationships with the clients and seeing our people develop within the business – something that we place emphasis on at Spectrum.”

 

Do you have any interesting stories from your time with Spectrum?

 

“There are so many from over the years! The cleaning industry definitely keeps you on your toes. One of my most recent ones was explaining to a new client why men’s toilets didn’t need sanitary bins!”

What do you enjoy in your spare time?

 

“I enjoy going to the gym, (trying to) golf, interior design and seeing my friends.”

 

What’s your favourite quote?

 

“Believe you can and you’re halfway there” – Theodore Roosevelt

 

What advice would you give your younger self entering the industry?

 

“Be aware of your self-worth and never give up. Surround yourself with good people who share the same ethos and ambitions as you.”

 

Are there any assumptions about women that you would like to change?

 

“Spectrum is very unusual in having an all senior female team. I find this empowering as this industry is very male-dominated. I would like to see more females in senior roles in companies across all industries, and I believe we are moving in the right direction.”

 

What has been some challenging decisions in your career?

 

“One of the biggest challenges was initially making the decision to start Spectrum – I had to ask myself, is this what I want to do? How difficult is it going to be? I’m glad I took that leap years ago! Since Spectrum was established in 2003, we have faced many challenges but have also experienced some great highlights and achievements. I’m proud of where the company is today as we continue to grow into new markets.”

 

Get to know the rest of our team  here.