Influential Businesswoman Awards 2024, Acquisition International | 39 Most Innovative SustainabilityFocused Businesswoman 2024 (UK): Helena King annock-based Euro-Matic UK Ltd was established in 2016. The company supplies ethically-produced, hollow plastic balls for the leisure and hospitality industry, and floating balls to support UK manufacturing with chemical and heat loss. Its latest venture is the production of floating shade cover balls that help save water, reduce the chemicals needed in drinking water and reduce algae in open water areas including reservoirs, water treatment plants, and emergency water supplies. These simple balls last for over 20 years! As a plastic converter, Euro-Matic helps reduce our carbon footprint by offering viable, sustainable, long-lasting solutions. Starting from a tiny home office, Helena and Paul have built a lean and simple business model from scratch. No materials are wasted and with manufacturing based in Hungary, the company uses the most costeffective shipping methods possible. Helena tells us, “When we started the business I worked full-time in London as a director for Victim Support. My background is helping charities create ethical income through retail shops, brand and licenced partnerships. I’ve also worked with Age UK and PDSA and have an extensive marketing and strategic partnership background. Paul’s experience is in technical engineering and product development. Initially, we planned Euro-Matic as a small business for Paul so that he could cover school-run duties whilst I worked in London. Within a few months, we realised that wasn’t possible, so I took the jump and left my job. Seven years on we’ve gone from zero to 1 million turnover.” Today, Euro-Matic employs a small team across two warehouses and offices in the Midlands. The couple’s mantra is to work hard and take careful consideration when making any new investment into people or equipment for their business. If they don’t know how to do something, they learn. Helena says, “I left home aged 15. That made me very independent, I’ve always been a fighter and grafter. Working in the charity sector, I learned to be creative with limited budgets whilst considering brand protection and long-term sustainable outcomes instead of quick financial wins.” Despite her drive and ambition, Helena has faced many challenges in her working life, from being judged by her appearance and age, to being expected to do ‘extra’ tasks because she’s a woman. As Helena has taken up more senior roles she encounters fewer problems, but she’s still very aware of how differently women can be treated. She says, “Women need to prove their worth more than men. We’re expected to work harder to gain respect whilst often juggling parenting and other tasks. My advice to anyone starting out is to remain humble, human and approachable with everyone you work with. Be willing to learn new skills, work hard and smart, and be organised. I don’t attend meetings for meeting’s sake, I don’t socialise if I don’t want to. I do what’s needed for my business and my family.” Helena is currently part of a peer-to-peer network offering support and advice to local businesswomen. She’s passionate about paying forward the advantages she has been given, and Euro-Matic is currently sponsoring its Marketing Executive to complete a CIM in Marketing. Both in business and in her spare time, Helena is keen to demonstrate that anyone can overcome obstacles with the right approach. Despite having extensive reconstruction surgery on both her legs, Helena will shortly be tackling her first long-distance triathlon. Good luck Helena! To find out more about Euro-Matic’s innovative products and solutions, please visit the company website. Contact: Helena King Company: Euro-Matic UK Ltd Web Address: https://www.euro-matic.co.uk/ Helena King was a director of a major London charity until she and her husband Paul had an idea for a small business. Opportunities began to reveal themselves, and it wasn’t long before Helena quit her ‘big-city job’ and never looked back. Euro-Matic UK Ltd’s simple, innovative solutions are revolutionising UK water solutions to support the planet’s precious resources. We chat with Helena to find out more. C
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