Getting to know... Amy Andrews

In the latest instalment of Bdaily’s Getting to know... feature, which looks at the person behind the business profile, Amy Andrews, managing director at stone and porcelain paving firm RF Paving, based in Whitley, near Doncaster, talks about the importance of family, upholding strong values in business and her passion for exploring the world...

We know you as the managing director of RF Paving, but who is the person behind the title? Tell us a little about what makes you tick...

I'm a massive family person; my children and family mean absolutely everything to me.

I do everything for them.

I'm also someone who needs routine and organisation to function!

I'm a devoted to-do-list maker, and I write everything down.

Regular brain dumps are essential, as they help me stay clear-headed and avoid getting overwhelmed.

I believe we should all be kinder to each other too.

I also try to live that way, by staying positive, finding the bright side in every situation and treating people with kindness.

It’s a simple philosophy, but it shapes how I run the business and how I move through life.

Did you always want to work in your sector?

Not at all.

I began my career as an accountant.

I always had a natural aptitude for numbers and mathematics, so it felt like the logical path to take.

After qualifying, though, I quickly realised the environment wasn't the right fit for my personality.

I'm naturally very outgoing and thrive on human connection and conversation, so I made the move into sales, where I discovered a real passion for aesthetics.

From there, I was able to draw on my business and financial background to start developing product ranges, and I found everything began to click into place.

I grew organically into the role I have today, and I couldn't be happier.

What’s the best bit about your job? And the worst?

The best part of my job is the freedom to build something I'm truly proud of: a company with strong values that run through everything we do, from how we treat our team to how we show up for customers.

There is a common belief in business that you have to step on others to get ahead, but I fundamentally disagree with that.

As for the hardest part, it's the inability to switch off.

My mind is constantly running, whether thinking about cash flow, profitability or long-term growth.

The financial side of running a business is something you never stop navigating, and the responsibility of it all stays with you.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

My family and my children. And they will always come first.

Professionally, I'm most proud of building and sustaining a business that has never lost sight of its values.

It's one thing to set out with good intentions, but it’s another to maintain them as you grow, face challenges and come under pressure.

The fact our values aren't just words on a wall, but are genuinely reflected in how we operate, our supply chain, how we treat our people and how we serve customers, means everything to me.

How do you relax outside of work?

Most of my downtime revolves around my family.

We have a real love for travel and exploring different parts of the world.

There is something incredibly grounding about immersing yourself in different cultures and seeing how other people live.

It gives you a completely fresh perspective.

We do a lot of walking as a family, and we make a point of always seeking out new places.

It really helps me recharge and reset.

What makes Yorkshire such a great place to live and work?

Yorkshire is a truly special place, and I think once you've lived here, it’s very hard to imagine being anywhere else.

There’s an incredible sense of identity and pride that runs through Yorkshire.

The people are warm, straight-talking and genuinely community-minded, and that translates into the business world.

There's a real spirit of collaboration and support among businesses that is quite unique.

My whole family are from Yorkshire, and I'm really proud to be from here.

And the nature and the countryside are unbelievable too.

Tell us something about you we didn’t know...

Loyalty and friendship mean everything to me.

I’ve had the same friendship group since I was 13.

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