She left school at 16 and four years later married engineer Antony Wood. She spent the next 20 years raising their children, Susan ,Sarah and Antony.

Sadly Mr Wood died of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma at the age of 39 and she had to fight to keep hold of the family home.

Her friends told her she should remarry as soon as possible – one even suggested it would be "socially unacceptable" to consider being a single mum.

But she was determined to start a new chapter in her life and remained single. Then in 1993, when her children were older, set up ICW UK in Horbury, near Wakefield, an industrial glazing company.

Now 61 she has built up the firm and not only won awards for their creations but also earned herself several key positions in the local business world.

She is chair of the district development agency Wakefield First, a board member of Forward Ladies, a female networking and business support group and a panel member at the Yorkshire International Women in Business convention.

Margaret now juggles her business work with being a grandmother and her three year relationship with fellow entrepreneur Robert Chapman.


My childhood wasn't easy. My older brother John suffered a burst appendix and died of peritonitis when he was just 12 years old and that was very hard for my parents and myself to come to terms with. On top of that I was quite a big girl at school and didn't quite fit in – let's just say I attracted a lot of unwanted attention, which was also difficult for me to deal with. My mother loved cooking and I ate what she made. But I became aware of boys, hormones came along and I wanted to look sexy. I do a job but I never forgot I'm a woman.

The best piece of advice I was ever given was "be yourself" and that has stayed with me for a long time and I think it's an important idea to hold onto. It's easy to be a daughter or a wife or a mother but it isn't always so easy just to be yourself and go out there and make the most of that. I think that was the turning point for me when I realised I had to understand who Margaret was and then realise my potential.

The thing I'm most proud of are my achievements in business because it hasn't been easy, it's been a very, long hard road to get to where I am now. But I'm still here, still doing what I do and I don't ever see myself retiring either, I love what I do so much. There have been times I've wanted to run away from things, but I've found a drive and a passion. Life is open to all of us, it's just altering your mindset.

The person I'd most like to meet again is my husband because I'd like him to see what I've done with my life. I used to be involved with his business when he was alive and he knew I had potential but I think he'd still be surprised by the company I've built up and where I've got to in life. He was a wonderful man and I still miss him in some ways, even though I have started a whole new era in my life and you have to learn to close the doors on the past and look towards the future. I loved him and really appreciated him. He was a driver in my life, but I'm the driver now.

The one thing I couldn't live without is my family. I value my independence very much as well because it allowed me to reinvent myself. But while my independence allows me to do what I want, when I want and how I want to do it, they're the reason I do it at the end of the day, they give me drive. But I also have an extended family of friends and colleagues through my work.

The last time I cried was yesterday actually. I went to a community college as part of my work and met a young man with physical and learning disabilities. He managed to stand up with some help from his teacher and tell me about the fact that he'd been bullied and it really touched something inside of me, I could really relate to what he was going through. I didn't get the chance to speak my truth, but he spoke his. But I admired him so much for overcoming it at the same time. It still makes me well up with tears when I think about it now.

To relax I love listening to music. Plus horses have always been a big part of my life.

My first love was probably my horse Shelta – I know that sounds a bit weird!

My first job was at ICI Fibres in Harrogate as an administrator and co-ordinator – I'd be project manager in today's business world. I went straight from school with five O Levels which was good for me. I was expected to go out, get a job, get married and have children – I came from a very traditional working class background.

My philosophy on life is an old cliche but it's true – live for the moment and don't live to regret what you haven't done. I haven't always lived by that, I've procrastinated and missed opportunities because I put barriers in my own way. I'd say to anybody that barriers are often just in your mind.


Favorite things...


Food: Fish

TV show: Prime Suspect

Author: DH Lawrence

Actor: Helen Mirren

Film: The Horse Whisperer

Star sign: Aquarius