Vote 100

Her enthusiasm as an advocate for women in the workplace and her ability to inspire others are just two reasons why Julia Ffoulkes, Central Planning & Programmes support manager, has been nominated for our Vote 100 campaign.

Area collections manager, Vicki Dunkley, from Home Counties North mail centre, said: ‘Julia is such a lovely person both professionally and personally; she always goes out of her way to help in any way she can.

‘At Home Counties North we decided to set up a women’s network group and knowing that Julia had been involved in these types of group previously for the business, we asked her for some help.

‘Julia was only too happy to help – she sent us some aids and she even came to our start-up event to speak to us and tell us her stories. She discussed some of the work she had done with other women in the business and how she had supported them. She also told us how the many experiences she has had during her career had made her feel and how she had made changes in her own work to improve her performance.

‘Julia was so enthusiastic and left us all feeling so inspired. She is a fantastic speaker and always manages to make you feel like she is talking to you personally one-to-one. She is such an enthusiastic advocate of women in the workplace, always happy to support and share her knowledge and experience on how we as women, can improve the workplace.’

Julia joined Royal Mail as a postwoman in 2006 when women were a significant minority in the business, from frontline colleagues right through to senior management and union representation. She soon secured a role within the CWU as the unit’s safety representative to champion her colleagues’ issues.

After moving to a delivery sector manager support role, Julia became involved in driving the agenda on gender equality within the workplace, organising events, long-service awards ceremonies, and charity fundraising challenges. The high-profile nature of this work led to her being promoted to an executive assistant role before moving during a reorganisation back into a line manager role - the only female manager in a new team appointed to tackle a poor performing unit, to restore standards and behaviours.

Based on commendations from colleagues and former managers, Julia moved into a role in human resources. This is where her Springboard journey began as she was tasked with relaunching the programme with a target of progressing 200 women through the scheme within the first year.

In 2015, Julia was appointed to the national programmes team where she remains today. She is also a Springboard facilitator and part of the communications and recruiting workstream for the Women's steering group.

‘I have always enjoyed being involved in driving the women’s agenda,’ said Julia. ‘You only have to look around you to understand why we have the drive on equality within the business. If we can get to a place where equality for all, regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, race or disability is the norm, then we will be working in a better-balanced business that mirrors our customers, where everyone is included.

‘Having worked with the Springboard programme for five years now I’m able to be on the frontline working with women in the business and understanding what it is that they want and need. I try my best to help resolve any issues they are presented with, whether it be in their workplace or gaining help and support in moving into their next role.

‘Having a place on the national Women’s steering group also enables me to highlight the needs of women throughout the business at different levels. I just want to see everyone have an equal chance in the business, and my role in both the steering group and Springboard, helps me to achieve this.’

Vote 100

Our Vote 100 campaign is your chance to help us showcase the enormous contribution Royal Mail women make each and every day both to colleagues and customers, ensuring we remain the UK’s most trusted postal operator.

If there is someone in your workplace who you admire for their outstanding work ethic, their drive to improve their own and others’ skills, their knack for supporting or mentoring others, showing kindness, overcoming obstacles, or influencing positive behaviour – we want to hear from you!

Please send your name and contact details plus the name of the colleague you wish to nominate and your reasons for doing so, to vote100@royalmail.com. We will then be in touch to obtain further details.