Virginia left school aged 16 to work in the family textile business but returned to education in her twenties, before completing a Law degree at the Leeds Collage of Law and qualifying as a solicitor in 1987.

In 1990, along with her husband Clive, she co-founded Design & Display Limited, a specialist manufacturing business in Elland, West Yorkshire. As Sales Director, Virginia has driven the business’ success by securing long-term partnerships with several major national retailers.

In the early days of Design & Display, Virginia combined her role with a continued interest in law, acting as a concillation officer with the Law Society.

Virginia’s main passion outside work are her children Freddie and Izzy and she spends a great deal of time on her charitable interests. A music fanatic, she is Vice President of Opera North and is also involved with the visual arts and is a patron of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and The Hepworth Wakefield.

Virginia was High Sheriff of West Yorkshire in 2013/2014. In January 2014 she became a Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire and is President of the RNLI Leeds Business Branch. She was appointed to the Council of Huddersfield University in January 2015 and is a Trustee of Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

In 2021, Virginia became an ambassador for the Hebden Bridge based community interest company, Ask The Question (ATQ), who aim to improve the educational outcome of children who have experienced adverse childhood experiences.