Natasha Lister

"I started as a Site Manager helping to manage building projects for an international construction company but now work as a Site Planner ensuring the programme is adhered to on site.I matched the ‘Innovator’ type because I always needs to think of new, bigger and better ideas. I feel there are risks involved in construction much like an investment, as there is a competitive streak to beat targets and exceed people’s expectations. I am friendly, persuasive, helpful and matched the ‘Coach’ type because I always works as part of a team. I like to tackle new problems on site, to understand why and how things happen and to work out why something went wrong to prevent it from happening in future. That really fits with the ‘Explorer’ type."

"My role as a Site Manager was to manage the trades staff on building projects and ensure projects run on time, to budget and to the best quality but now my focus is mainly the timing element of the build. I used to manage the day-to-day running of a building site and implements safety controls. This involves carrying out inspections of quality, checking labour allocation is suitable to hit the time frame and ensuring that the safety standards are maintained. I also maintained the site diary for record keeping. I really look forward to coming back and seeing the progress made on my projects."

"I grew up wanting to be an archaeologist, an artist, a teacher, a doctor and even a dolphin trainer! However, I found you do not always steer down one path in life. I have achieved a little bit of all those careers thanks to opportunities in the building sector. (I can always swim with dolphins on holiday instead!) I have always taken an interest in buildings, from the Tower of Pisa to the Shard, and visiting construction sites sparked an interest for me. I started working as a bricklayer labourer with a small building firm at weekends and during the school summer holidays. Whilst still at school, I did one day a week at college studying Construction and the Built Environment Level 2. This was followed by Construction and the Built Environment Level 3 Extended Diploma. I originally intended to go down the client project management route but in fact much preferred the on-site atmosphere and actual building. I went onto study BSc Construction Management degree at university, whilst also applying to work for major contractors. I had been trying to get in with BAM from the age of 16 after hearing about them at a careers fair, but focused on her studies initially. After 1 year at university, I found the official application process for BAM and was successful at interview. My starting salary was £16,000. This has been followed by 6 monthly increases and bonuses and so quickly jumped up to £20,000 before I had even graduated. Now starting rates are alot higher."

"I started working in the construction industry when I was quite young and used to do activities like bricklaying and roofing whilst also attending dance classes, performing in shows and pantomimes and playing football and rugby! I still enjoy playing Rugby and watching Leeds Rhinos. I also enjoys travelling for days out and holidays. In my company I have had the opportunity to visit sites all over the country. BAM’s head office is in the Netherlands and there are opportunities to travel and work all over Europe and the Middle East. BAM are an international company with projects even in Antarctica!In the future, I would like to keep working in the same industry, hopefully as a Project Manager."

"I start my day by checking emails and getting ready to go out on site including a PPE dress regime while catching up with the rest of the site team (good team moral is vital). Each day is different; normally I will check the sub-contracted operatives are in the right areas to work and I used to do inductions for new starters at 8:30 but now that is no longer part of my planning role. All kind of problems crop up in the day which managers have to prioritise and solve. Coordination is key to running an organised site. I use my iPad to take progress photos for the BIM360 daily site update and checklists, which act as quality assurance for individual parts of the build and safety conformance too. Keeping on track with the programme is another juggle for site managers and planners but thankfully specialists on the team are there to help such as the planner, engineer QS, design manager and so on."

"GCSE Drama A*, History A*, RS A*, English A, Maths C, Science C, Additional Science C, Construction and the Built Environment Level 2: B (equivalent to 7 GCSEs B in bricklaying module), Construction and the Built Environment Level 3: D*D*D*, German Language Qualification awarded 2015, BSc (hons) Construction Management – 1st class degree"