The strength of Pinefield Glass doesn’t just come from what customers see day-to-day, it also relies on the people working behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly as the business continues to grow.
Diane Charlesworth has been part of that journey for over 20 years, joining straight from school, and growing alongside the business up until she joined Pinefield Glass. Now working across finance, HR and operations support, she plays a key role in ensuring the business runs efficiently behind the scenes. We spoke to Diane about her career journey, how her role has developed and what it takes to support a fast-moving, growing business.
Can you tell us a bit about your career journey so far?
“I left school at 17 and this was my first job! I’ve been here ever since – around 20 years in the industry. I started in general admin, processing orders and supporting customers, and progressed from there into a supervisory role before moving into finance, where I also took on HR responsibilities. It’s definitely evolved over time.”
Did you always want to move into finance?
“I always had an interest in finance, but it naturally developed through the role. I worked under the finance director at the time and gradually took on more responsibility. When the opportunity came up, I stepped fully into the role.”
Is there a key moment that shaped how you work today?
“Being in the business from such an early stage gives you a real understanding of what matters.
“You see everything, not just your own role, but how all the different parts connect in the background. It gives you a different perspective on how important those day-to-day processes are in keeping everything running.”
What does your role involve day-to-day?
“I cover finance, payroll and HR, so there’s a lot to juggle. We process everything internally, but we also work with accountants for the wider financial and tax side of things.”
What’s a lesson you learned early on that still sticks with you?
“You need to be mindful of people. You have to put yourself in their shoes, and handle things properly and with understanding.”
How has your role changed as the business has grown?
“When I first moved into finance, the business was much smaller. Since then, it’s more than doubled in size in terms of staff, vehicles and overall activity. Cash flow has become much more important and there’s a lot more monitoring involved, making sure everything is controlled and running as it should each month.”
How do you balance financial control with business growth?
“It’s about keeping a tight control on spend, while still allowing the business to grow. Any investment, whether that’s machinery or systems, is always planned properly so it’s sustainable.”
How do you approach recruitment and HR?
“It depends on the role. For factory positions, the factory team will usually lead interviews. For office roles, it’s more collaborative. I’m involved in onboarding, inductions and anything HR-related, but hiring decisions are very much a team approach.”
How has your idea of success changed over time?
“When I first started at 17, I didn’t really know where my career would go. Over time, success has just evolved with the business. What felt like a big milestone years ago now feels like part of everyday operations – it’s about keeping things moving and continuing to improve, rather than one specific goal.”
What excites you most about the future of Pinefield Glass?
“We’re always looking at new ideas and products and where we can grow next. At the same time, we’re at a point where the business is quite busy, so it’s about maintaining that level and making sure service and quality stay consistent.
“We’re grateful to be in that position and focused on keeping things running well while exploring new opportunities where we can.”
What advice would you give to someone starting out?
“Work hard and stay consistent. If you put the effort in, it gets recognised.
“A lot of people here have grown through the business by doing exactly that, starting in junior roles and progressing over time. If you’re willing to learn and develop, there’s opportunity to move forward.”
Diane’s journey shows how much of Pinefield Glass is built on long-term experience, adaptability and people who have grown alongside the business over time. From starting in an entry-level role straight from school through to working across finance, HR and operations support, her career reflects the steady progression and trust that sits at the heart of the team.