Employee Spotlight: Celebrating Diane Younger – 40 Years with Glenfield Invicta/AVK

Reaching four decades with one company is a remarkable achievement, and Diane’s journey reflects dedication, adaptability and an unwavering commitment to the business and the people around her.

Diane joined Glenfield & Kennedy in 1986, straight from school through a Youth Training Scheme. Beginning her career by moving across a variety of departments including Sales, Purchasing, Logistics and the Drawing Office, she quickly gained valuable experience and insight into the business. She was later taken on full-time in Purchasing and remembers those early days fondly – from the sounds and atmosphere of the foundry to the strong sense of teamwork and camaraderie that defined the workplace.

In 1992, Diane moved into the Sales Department as an Internal Sales Clerk, where she embraced the challenge of learning the company’s extensive product range and building relationships with customers both in the UK and internationally. Over the years, Diane continued to take on new challenges, including a period as an External Sales Representative for Glenfield and later becoming Internal Sales Manager.

Then, in 2005, four years after the AVK Group acquisition of Glenfield, Diane took a giant leap that many would hesitate to make – moving to Australia to join AVK Australia. What began as a conversation with a colleague turned into an exciting new chapter spanning more than 15 years. Diane immersed herself in a new market, new products, new standards and new systems, helping customers and distributors with her product knowledge and support while building lasting relationships along the way.

Although Australia provided many memorable experiences, Scotland was always home. In 2022, Diane returned to Kilmarnock and rejoined Glenfield as an Internal Sales Executive, bringing with her a wealth of international experience and knowledge gained across the business.

Reflecting on her time with Glenfield/AVK, Diane says she still enjoys learning, challenging herself and embracing change. It is perhaps this mindset that explains such a remarkable career journey – always willing to adapt, support others and take on something new.

Describing herself as loyal, hard-working and trustworthy, those qualities have undoubtedly contributed to the impact she has made over the last four decades.

Hear more from Diane and her journey in AVK: "I think maintaining your interest is the reason I’ve stayed with Glenfield for so long.  Every day still brings something new – as they say ‘every day is a school day’! I really appreciate everything I’ve learned and everyone who’s helped me over the years and it’s amazing to think that there are still a few of us still with Glenfield since my early years with the Company.  The opportunities and memories that my job has given me over the years are cherished and will never be forgotten. It’s incredible that I can still remember my interview before I started (like it was yesterday) and I can honestly say, I can’t imagine working anywhere else – so that’s surely proof that I must still enjoy my job!"

When reflecting on her proudest achievement during her time with the Company, Diane said "My proudest moment has to be given the opportunity to work in Australia."

Sharing her advice for new employees, Diane added: "For new employees, I would like to think that it’s a Company you want to stick with – you won’t regret it and who knows what opportunities you might be rewarded with!"

As we celebrate Diane’s 40-year anniversary, we thank her for her commitment, knowledge, positivity and contribution to Glenfield over the years. Her journey is a fantastic example of growing with the company, embracing opportunities and building lasting relationships along the way.

Congratulations Diane on 40 years – an incredible achievement!