Pall-Ex, Hilary Devey

By an unexpected chance I get to watch for the first time Drangon´s Den: probably most of you have watched the pograme, but for all of you that haven´t, its a reallity television program that freatures entepreneurs pitching their business ideas to get the investetment they need to secure their business from a couple of self made millionaries.

After watching several episodes I was so fascinated by the figure of one of he dragons, Hilary Devey, that I decided to research and write about her, therefore, today´s post will verse about, yes, you had it right!! Hilary Devey, CEO and founder of Pall-Ex.

Pall-Ex its a palletised freight network company founded in 1996.Since its creation has grown to become the UK’s number 1 network for distribution of palletsied goods with over 7,500 trucks and 5 million square feet of warehousing facilities.

Most of you already are familiarized with the company, and some will probably have heard about Hilary´s origins but before I go thorugh her story, I will recomend you to watch the next video, which will give you an insight of Hilary´s muiltimillionaire business and on what she had to give up to start from scratch what today is one of the most successful business in the UK.

Honestly, it takes a lot of courage to sell all your properties to start a dream that yes, might work out well, but also might end up failing and letting you skint with a pile of debt to pay off and turning what was supponed to be your dream into a nightmare. But that´s exactly what Hilary did after seeing her loan request rejected, she decided to sell almost everything she had to start Pall-Ex, and by now, you know the end of the story!

The more I read about her, the more respect she earned from me. Being a woman in a tipical male business, a single mom and a trully enterpreneur with not financial support whatsoever makes her story even more inspiring.

I recomend you to read the next interview, recently publiched by The Guardian, where Hilary speaks about the difficults she faced troughout the process of setting her company and about some other personal issues she has have to overcome to get where she is at the present time. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2012/may/20/hilary-devey-dragons-den-interview)

You've written your autobiography. Your life was pretty eventful from early on, wasn't it? 

It wasn't the usual childhood. My dad was very spontaneous: it was: "Come on kids, we're going on holiday." "No, Arthur, you can't, they're at school tomorrow." "Sod it, they'll learn more with me." Or, 11 at night, "I think I'll knock that wall down." The following morning, we'd get up and the wall would be gone. It was a rather different childhood.

But you also reveal some extremely traumatic times, particularly being raped when you were a young adolescent. How did it feel to write about it?

It was emotionally stressful. Things I suppose that you suppress over many, many years, that are not even thought about for many, many years, actually came to the pen. I've never told a soul; even my family are going to get a shock when they read that.

And we get a glimpse of the embryonic dragon. You got the bug early, didn't you?

I've always loved business, since being a kid. Even from working on a stall on the market. I could take dictation in shorthand and type the letter by the age of 11. It must be inbred. I love the cut and thrust of getting the deal.

You've had a very successful career in the freight industry and brought a son up on your own. How did you manage that?

I had to go back to work two weeks after my son was born, but those two weeks I had with him were probably the happiest of my life. But I had to feed him, clothe him, house him. I'm totally independent. It was my choice to have him. The fact that his father chose to sod off isn't the state's fault, is it? I was determined I would continue with a career.

You describe some traumatic times with your son, Mevlit. How are things now?

I'm very positive about my son. Very, very proud of him. He's one in 10 million, 100 million, that comes back from the brink of death as a heroin addict and puts his life back on track, and he's now working, he's happy, he's slowly, slowly becoming an outgoing, humorous person again, with the aid of no drugs whatsoever.

Do you think women get a fair deal in the workplace? Is it getting better?

There is chauvinism or misogyny in any industry all over the world. Therefore, if a woman's got it in her, then for God's sake, fight for it, go for it, get there. I do feel that having a child, and taking a sabbatical to have a child, and taking two years out of the corporate ladder to care for that child, if you think of a woman's working life now, it's probably 30-40 years, so it's not even a tenth of her career, so why should she be penalised?

How does it work in your companies?

My middle and senior management within the businesses are a 50/50 split. I do think mixed-gender workforces have more fun and are more innovative. You can have more banter; you can have more tears as well. But, in general, I think you get more out of a mixed-gender workforce.

You were an instant hit when you arrived on Dragon´s Den. Had you ever thought about going on TV before?

No, never. They just said I was a natural. Whether I am or not, I don't know. People respond to being told the truth and I don't believe there's any other way to do it. I was always brought up that, if you've got any bad news to deliver, then you must deliver it face to face and look them in the eyes. And you take compassion out of a commercial decision and then put some compassion in subsequently. That's been my mantra all my life.

Why do you think we're so obsessed with shows such as Dragons' Den and The Apprentice?

I think everybody's got a dream, and everybody wants to realise that dream. I want to help, but make them aware of what is required from them to make that dream come to fruition.

You obviously have a lot of fun getting dressed up for Dragons' Den, don't you?

I love doing it. Putting outfits together is my passion and I don't always buy expensive clothes, contrary to popular belief. I buy skirts and a cheap top and dress it up with a really nice jacket and matching shoes and a matching bag, and it looks fabulous, and I'm probably dressed for 50 quid. I actually hate wearing make-up – or as much as they put on me on TV. If I go out shopping on Oxford Street, it would be tinted moisturiser, a touch of blusher, bit of lippy, bit of mascara.

You do complain in the book about having to wear a different outfit for each posh do.

I've found that incredibly frustrating, really. I'm not getting value for money, am I? In fact, I am going to wear the same outfits again, and if I get criticised, I'm going to say: "Why be wasteful?"

You've suffered some ill-health in the last couple of years. How are you now?

I'm OK. I had a stroke; so have millions and millions of other people. It has left its after-effects, which are quite frustrating, but I'm one of the lucky ones, aren't I? I can now move my arm, but I've no feeling in my fingertips so I can't fasten buttons. I can't fasten a bra. I can't put rollers in my hair. I've got a young girl who'll help me with my hair and whatever. I'm very fortunate that a) I can afford it and b) I've got her. I keep saying" "You're my left arm" and she says: "But I'd rather be your right one."

So do you take it a bit easier these days?

I don't think I've had a holiday in 17 years. Some days, at weekends, I don't get up out of bed, I'm that tired. I have a shower, put clean pyjamas on, go back into bed with my Kindle and that's bliss.

Can you ever imagine yourself retiring?

I think I'd die when I do. I'll carry on working for as long as I can be effective. Once I start hindering, I like to think I've got enough savvy to say: "Enough's enough."

Any other jobs you'd like to have a go at?

I'd love to be in politics; it's probably my next career move. I tell you what, I don't think they'd like me very much, whichever party I joined.

I´m very much impress by this woman, and can´t think of a better example of a self made business person. I will keep an eye on every new venture she starts as I´m convinced there is plenty to learn from her.

If you would like to know more about Hilary, you can visit her personal website: http://www.hilarydevey.com/ you can read her biography "Bold as Brass: My Story" and of course you can watch her on Dragon´s Den.