Thirty-one-year-old Daryl, born in Esh Winning and educated at Framwellgate School, Durham, completed A-levels before embarking on an art-based degree course in Newcastle which she quickly came to accept was “a passion and not a career.”
She switched to Direct Line Group’s (DLG) Green Flag call centre in Leeds, initially selling policies and advising customers. Building on her day-to-day experience advanced her to expert status and an invitation to provide input on the company’s decision to launch a new database setting out the direction and priorities of their work.
The result was elevation to “product owner” her work extended to embrace DLG’s business in Direct Line, Churchill and Privilege. While with the company Daryl worked alongside the charity Young Women’s Trust, launched to promote equality and help women, through support and mentoring, to launch their careers.
A spin-off of her trust involvement provided the chance to read the 2024 Financial Times Share Exchange’s Women’s Leaders Review, which looks to improve representation of women on boards and leadership teams within the FTSE 350 and 50 of the largest of Britain’s private companies.
It was while was working at Direct Line she met her partner John and the couple now live in Coventry with his daughter Sienna and their pet dog Bailey.
Last year, after seven years with DLG she switched to NFU Mutual, still working as a product owner.
In her spare time Daryl attends a fitness centre where she follows a new main stream training regime, using an aerial hoop, believed have originated in the circus.
The metal hoop, up to a metre wide and bound by tape, is suspended above the ground and locked into a fixed rig hanging from the ceiling. Users can spend up to an hour running through a wide range of artistic combinations of movement which can put every bodily muscle to the test.
“I explained it to John and he thought it would be a doddle – but he got quite a surprise at just how difficult some of the routines can be,” said Daryl.
“When dad first suggested I follow him into the freemen I was hesitant because of where I live but the historical aspect really caught my eye. It’s a great way to stay connected to my home city and something which has played such a big part in its history. Looking at the extensive charity work the freemen are involved in, it would be a privilege to be able to support it in some way in the future,” she added.
Daryl’s dad had the distinction of making one of the shortest journeys ever when he was sworn in, walking little more than 100 yards from his then office in Clayport to take the oath of allegiance. During the last five years he has been warden of the Cordwainers’ Guild and, at one point, chairman of the wardens.
