Inside the Cold Room: Abigail Bennett
When did you join Lightfoot and what do you do in your own time?
Hi, I’m Abigail Bennett and I joined Lightfoot in January 2025 as a Sales Administrator moving across from the telecoms industry. I’ve really enjoyed gaining experience within the sales environment and getting to know the team.
Outside of work I love reading, especially thrillers and fantasy books as well as trying out local breakfast spots in my free time.
WHAT DOES YOUR ROLE INVOLVE?
In my role as a Sales Administrator, I get to see the whole process. From the moment an RFQ comes in, all the way through to sending the final order out to the customer and making sure they’re happy with everything. I manage a variety of internal trackers to keep everything organised and running smoothly, making sure each stage of the process stays on track from beginning to end. It’s a role that enables me to connect with both the Lightfoot team and our customers and this is something I love!
WHAT’S YOUR CAREER BACKGROUND?
Before joining Lightfoot, I tried out a variety of different jobs; working in a school, a pub, and in retail which gave me experience of working with people from a variety of backgrounds. I eventually moved into a role in telecoms, which was an excellent opportunity to get into sales, especially with the added challenge of cold calling. Once I realised how much I enjoyed sales, I knew I wanted to find a role where I could learn, grow, and progress. That’s ultimately what led me to Lightfoot.
What are the most rewarding and challenging parts of your role?
The most challenging part of my role is initially understanding the more technical requirements a customer may have. However, this is always manageable as we’re fortunate to have experienced engineers on site who are always happy to talk me through things and help me build on my technical knowledge.
The most rewarding part of my job is receiving positive feedback from customers for the team, it’s a great feeling knowing that our customers are genuinely pleased with the service they’ve received.
WHAT’S ONE THING PEOPLE MIGHT BE SUPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOUR JOB?
Here at Lightfoot, the team and I take any opportunity we can to get involved in different areas of the business to broaden our understanding across the various departments. Because of this, I’ve gained some experience in purchasing as well as spending time in the warehouse to observe the goods‑in and goods‑out processes. This has really helped me build a better overall understanding of how everything works behind the scenes and assisted me in making more informed decisions when compiling customer RFQ’s.
WHAt’S A PROJECT OR ACHIEVEMENT YOU’RE PARTICULARLY PROUD OF?
I’ve really enjoyed being part of the quoting process for MaST, especially as it’s a new concept for everyone at the moment. I feel I’ve been able to contribute positively by helping to create and refine the new internal processes for handling RFQ’s of this size. The new system ensures everything is communicated clearly and consistently to both internal and external stakeholders.
WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER BEEN GIVEN (WORK OR PERSONAL)?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Working in a defence manufacturing environment means there’s a lot of terminology and industry specific acronyms to learn and understand. You quickly realise that no question is a silly one and that asking is always better than guessing. The more we ask, the more we learn!
WHICH BOOK, PODCAST OR PERSON HAS INFLUENCED YOU RECENTLY?
My mum is definitely the most influential person in my life and continues to be. She recently started creating stained‑glass pieces and is now taking a big leap by going part‑time at her job so she can follow her dream of making art and running workshops. She’s incredibly inspiring, and she always reminds me to chase any dream I have.