HSBC Commercial Banking's Jill Hague: Credit where it’s due

Oct 20 2009 by Henryk Zientek, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Jill Haigh: Credit where it’s due

“The boom was driven by retailing and property rather than manufacturing. We need to get back to doing something that adds value to GDP – and that means manufacturing. I would love to lend more to companies that are looking to export, this will help the UK come out of recession. We should not go head to head with low cost producing nations but seek to add real value in what we produce”

Jill is adamant that Huddersfield can be among the winners as the recovery takes hold. “Huddersfield is important to the bank because the town has great communication links with the conurbations of Leeds and Manchester and occupies an ideal position of influence between the two major cities,” she says.

“It has a first class university and the splendid Media Centre. Its people have proved they can do great things in areas such as textiles and engineering. Now we need to take that entepreneurial skill and apply it anew.”

Jill believes the town’s economic future depends in no small measure to those companies doing business overseas. “There are great businesses trading with dozens of countries – but they are often companies tucked away on some industrial estate making no fuss about what they do and are just getting on with it.

“Many of our business customers are trading as importers or exporters, which is where we can make a difference. We are the leading international bank in terms of expertise and geographical spread and we can help firms expand into new markets.”

Role: Area commercial director

Age: 47

Family: Married with one daughter

Holidays: City breaks, ski-ing, Hong Kong and Bali

Car: Honda Accord

First job: Office cleaner

Best thing about job: Working with some amazing businesses

Worst thing about job: Seeing a business fail

Business tip: To walk in your customer’s shoes

Work: Banking

Employs: 30

Sites: Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Halifax

Phone: 07786 524353

Email:jillhague@hsbc.com