‘The Glass Ceiling is Real’
MD Melissa Jones hailed her company’s King's Award (International Trade) win as “an incredible achievement.” However, the inspirational female MD pointed out that achieving success within an industry where women are frequently “not seen as equal” to men has been a real challenge. “Our industry is heavily male dominated,” she explained, “and this stretches throughout job types; from the skilled furniture makers in the workshop to the sales people selling furniture and yachts.” She continued: “I have been in situations where women are not seen as equal to the men in the room, and I think this is still the case for a lot of business sectors. I think it can be a difficult balance for women in how they position themselves and therefore how they are perceived by others - too forceful or too quiet.” “I believe it's about confidence, awareness, and adapting oneself to different people and situations,” Melissa shared. “I believe in ‘If you are in the room, be in the room - just be mindful of how loud you are in the room’.”
Sophie Costello, CEO & Director of Costello Medical Consulting Ltd
Melissa Jones, Managing Director of Neal Jones Furniture Ltd Based in Lancaster, Neal Jones Furniture is a premier furniture design company that manufactures the highest quality bespoke furniture for homes and yachts.
Costello Medical Consulting headquartered in Cambridge provides scientific support to the healthcare industry in the analysis, interpretation and communication of clinical and health economic data. Sophie Costello said receiving the King’s Award for International Trade was “a testament to the dedication and resilience of our team.” The aspirational CEO highlighted how the efforts of other trailblazing females within the pharmaceutical industry helped her to forge her own career path with confidence. “I haven't personally seen being a woman as a hindrance in my professional journey,” she said. “From early on, I was fortunate to have several inspiring female role models who advocated for me and instilled in me the confidence to pursue my ambitions.” Now a highly-respected business leader, Sophie is making great strides in ensuring the next generation of female workers receive the same degrees of encouragement and equality she enjoyed: “We have worked really hard to ensure Costello Medical is an inclusive organisation, not just for women but for everybody. “There are of course still hurdles to overcome in this area,” she acknowledged, “however, I see our success as a sign that change is happening, and I hope it can inspire other women to pursue their ambitions fearlessly.”
Lisa Cluer, Founder of Inside Out Contracts Ltd London-based Inside Out Contracts creates innovative, bespoke, design-led furniture that transforms hospitality and commercial spaces through bold design vision and close collaboration with architects, interior designers, and brands. "Winning the King’s Award for International Trade is an incredible honour,” Lisa Cluer said. “As a female founder, it means a great deal to have our journey recognised at this level.” Lisa shared Melissa’s observations of working within a male-dominated industry: “Building a company rooted in creativity, design integrity, and long-term relationships hasn’t always been easy - especially in industries where female leadership is still underrepresented.” However, the ambitious founder is optimistic about the future: “The design and manufacturing industries are evolving,” she noted, “but there is still work to do to ensure that women are encouraged to lead, speak up, and grow with confidence.” “My hope is that our story – and this Award – will inspire other women in business.”
King’s Awards Magazine 2025
17
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