A woman is celebrating her 40th anniversary working for the same company.

Jill Brooks, 56, has been with UK Power Networks in Crawley for the past four decades.

She joined the industry at the age of 16 and has worked there ever since.

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Jill, who is now in procurement at the power company, said: "I’m the gatekeeper for all the buying that takes place within the business, from stationery to electrical transformers for substations.

"I’m unofficially known as the ‘CGM Queen’ (contracts’ governance meeting). I love the work; it’s varied and challenging."

She said she has been "lucky" to stay with the company.

The 56-year-old from East Grinstead said: "Forty years is a long time. One of my key characteristics is that I’m very loyal and I like working here.

"I left school as soon as I could to get out into the real world and I’ve been lucky to end up working somewhere I enjoy.

“I like the way the business treats people. I feel I’m not just a number, I’m a small but important part of the company’s success.

"I feel appreciated and I like the people. I’ve had so much support and feel part of something bigger than just the work I deal with.”

Jill, who has had various roles during her career, said her work life has undergone many changes since she joined in 1984, with the main one being the advances in technology.

She said: “Everything was on paper. There was one visual display unit between three, not even a computer. It makes me sound antique.

"When I first started, I provided lunch cover on an old-fashioned switchboard with wires connected manually, like you see in the old films."

Jill said there are more women working in the electricity industry today than ever before.

She said: “For so long it was very stereotypical, women were in the office roles, but because of the way society has changed women know if they put their mind to it, they can do whatever they want."

Jill is among 37 staff to join the company’s 40+ Club this year, which currently has more than 300 members celebrating between 40 and 61 years of service.

Basil Scarsella, chief executive of UK Power Networks, said: “As an organisation that strives to be an employer of choice, we are delighted that many of our employees stay with us for their whole career.

"More than 300 employees have completed 40 or more years of continuous service and it is a pleasure to annually recognise their contribution to the electricity industry.”