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The last word. Name: Helen Millin Company: Germains Seed Technology Job title: Group Marketing Manager Biog: I am the Group Marketing Manager at Germains Seed Technology, one of the world’s largest seed technology companies, who provide value-added seed technology solutions to maximise the natural potential of seed in the field. Germains’ head office is based in King’s Lynn, where our production facility processes all of the sugar beet seed for the UK and European market. I started my career at Vauxhall Motors and enjoyed 27 years working in a variety of marketing and communications roles, which included managing four new car launches and numerous ATL and BTL campaigns. In 2010, I relocated to North Norfolk with my husband. Since then, I have worked as Head of Marketing and PR at The Hoste Arms, before returning to the motor industry as Tactical Marketing Manager for Saab GB and as a Senior Account Manager for a digital creative design agency, Graymatter. The opportunity to work at Germains presented itself earlier this year and I am just loving the diversity, challenge and opportunities this global marketing role offers. Best of all I get to work with a great team of people and live in Norfolk.
What did you want to be when you were young? For as long as I can remember I have been interested in travel. I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do and my aspirations jumped between being an interpreter to having my own travel agency. I loved watching all the holiday programmes as a child and would spend hours pouring over travel brochures deciding which hotel or city I would like to visit. What could you not live without? My diary and list of things to do, which never seems to get any shorter! If you could invite any two people to dinner, who would they be and why? It would have to be James Martin (BBC1’s Saturday Kitchen Live) who would cook the meal and Chris Evans (Radio 2) who I listen to when I drive to work along the A149 coast road each morning. I find his energy infectious and stimulating. Also as both of them share a passion about cars, I would at least be able to enjoy and contribute something meaningful to the conversation, although the type of cars they drive are obviously way out of my league!
If you could build a house anywhere in the world, where would it be? It would have to be on the North Norfolk coast, overlooking the marsh in Brancaster Staithe or the sea at Old Hunstanton. Although I have visited some amazing places around the world, there is nowhere I would rather live. What makes you angry? I try not to get angry, however there is no excuse for bad manners or being disrespectful to others. If you only had a £1 left in the whole world, what would you spend it on? I would buy a lottery ticket and chance my luck.
walking distance, is just wonderful. We first discovered North Norfolk on a very wet weekend 12 years ago when we stayed at The Hoste Arms in Burnham Market, little did I know then that I would end up working there. What is, in your opinion, the greatest invention ever? It has to be the internet. Today, we use it to work, bank, communicate, shop, educate, watch films, share information and socialise. From a marketing perspective it is invaluable. What is the most valuable lesson you have learnt in life? Never ask someone to do something you would not do yourself.
What is the best thing about Norfolk? I would probably say the people. Since we moved here four years ago everyone has made us so welcome. However, the wide open beaches, big skies, wildlife and amazing food come a close second. It is such a beautiful county and I am very lucky to live here. Having grown up in Bedfordshire, the sea was always two hours away, so the fact that it is now within
THE MAGAZINE OF NORFOLK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
If you could come back as an animal in your next life, what would it be and why? It would have to be a dog. As the owner of a golden retriever and rescued springer spaniel, I think they have a very charmed life.