The decisions people don't always see

I’ve got two young daughters, so coming home safe and well every day is really important to me. That’s something I carry with me throughout the day because everyone working on site has people waiting for them at home too. Whether they are a parent, a son, a daughter, a partner or a best friend, there is a responsibility to make sure everyone goes home safe and well at the end of the day.

For me, no two days on site are ever the same. One minute I could be out walking the site, speaking with the team and checking progress first-hand, the next I could be in meetings reviewing programme, cost and quality, or working through the decisions needed to keep the scheme moving in the right direction.

You can usually get a feel for how the day is going quite quickly. Walking the site early in the day tells you a lot. You can see how people are working together, the pride they take in the environment around them and the standards they set for one another. That’s what culture on site really looks like to me.

A lot of the responsibility that comes with the role is not always visible. People often see the activity on site, but not always the bigger picture thinking behind it. Some of the most important decisions are the ones people never see, making the right call at the right time, spotting potential issues early and keeping everything moving in the right direction. Especially on a coastal scheme where conditions can change quickly, that carries a huge amount of responsibility.

The people side of the role is what stays with me most. Hearing positive feedback from residents, seeing apprentices grow in confidence and handing over to a happy client are the moments that make the challenges worthwhile.

At the end of every day, the responsibility is simple. Making sure everyone gets home to the people waiting for them.