As she settles into her new role, we sat down with Julie Checkley to find out more about her background, her goals, and what excites her most about joining Barum & Dewar.

Tell us a bit about your career so far and what led you to B&D?

I’ve spent over 10 years working in B2B sales across manufacturing and packaging, with experience in plastics prototyping, automotive, aerospace, and food sectors. What really attracted me to B&D was the focus on innovation, bespoke design and the backing of Macfarlane Packaging. Plus, the culture here is inspiring, driven people doing great work.

What do you enjoy most about business development?

For me, it’s all about problem solving. I love getting to know a client’s challenges, listening carefully, and then helping them find the right solution. Every customer is different and that makes every project interesting.

Which sectors are you most excited to get involved with at B&D?

Space and defence really stand out. They’re really interesting sectors and full of potential. I’m looking forward to learning more about the sectors and seeing how we can bring real value to clients working in those fields.

What are your top priorities in the first few months?

Building relationships with our existing customers, listening to what they need, and understanding how we can better support them. I also want to get under the skin of how we work internally, streamlining quoting and service so that everything runs as smoothly as possible.

What does success look like for you in this role?

It’s about delivering value. Helping people solve problems, growing relationships, and making sure customers really understand the breadth of what we can offer. It’s not just about the product, it’s how we deliver it and the trust we build along the way.

And finally, what motivates you?

Doing my best in every situation. If I know I’ve made a difference and helped someone achieve their goal, that’s what makes it all worthwhile.