Nicola Hodson

"I am a Project Manager for a Trust Property and Estates team. My role involved lots of communication, organisation and problem solving skills. I have to be good at influencing people to ensure we stick to budgets and timescales. I am passionate about making a difference which can be seen in my attention to detail to ensure things are done right first time. I have worked in Construction for 4 years now and 2 years in Architecture before then, which makes me very passionate about the industry and campaigning for improvements, innovations and better inclusion and diversity. I am a creative thinker and love a good challenge or problem to solve. I am a bit of a workaholic and love to be doing courses, volunteering and doing all the time. "

"My job entails working with lots of different people from doctors to specialists to construction contractors to ensure the hospital estates are fit for purpose and improve patient care and experience. I am given rooms or buildings to review, help design and coordinate the construction including relocation of services across the estate. My role involves a lot of communication to the project team but also to ensure I have all the knowledge I need to deliver a successful job, from upstanding construction methods, mechanical engineering to how an x-ray works to how does a patient use a space. I also manage time and costs of a project to ensure value for money. I enjoy that every day is different, it involves problem solving and I get to meet lots of different people. "

"From a young age, I have always liked buildings and drawing buildings. I was fascinated about how buildings can change they way we work, live and play. I was fortunate to get involved in a Easter camp called Architecture for Everyone and was pushed by one of my teachers to college to go for architecture. I was from a disadvantaged background, and often thought a career in architecture was not for me but I am grateful for that teacher's encouragement as although I am not in architecture, he helped me start my career in building. After 2 years in Architecture, I realised I did not want to go back to university to do my second degree and I wanted to be more involved in the building side of the built environment. So I joined Wates in 2016 as a production management trainee on an early careers scheme. This scheme allowed me to work across different teams and roles across the business however I mainly carried out site management roles such as managing health and safety and quality, working with our supply chain and running the site programme. After coming off the scheme, I realised I had a passion for quality and helping people, and after applying for an internal role, started the role I am in now. Although I liked my role in site management, my role in quality allowed me to help a lot more people, and gave me the freedom to pursue other interests as it is a remote role. From there I realised I missed the project side of my role so moved to the NHS for job security but also to utilise all my skills in my role the estates team. Now I am involved in ensuring quality, helping design and solve estates problems and construction management. I think what has inspired me to keep changing roles and pushing myself is my desire to keep learning and using my skills to build my career. Other things which have helped build my career is becoming a Chartered Construction Manager with the CIOB and sitting on a regional committee to build my soft skills. "

"In my spare time, I love being creative and currently trying to establish a small custom art business. I also love walking in the countryside as I live in the city centre. "

"My typical day is a combination of emails, meetings and walking around the estate with relevant people to deliver a project. I like to be active so try to organise lots of walking meetings so the users of the space can really visual what we are planning for a space. I do spend a bit of time on my computer working on room designs, communicating with people via email or Teams or creating programmes for the projects. I often start work around 8 and finish around 6. I work across a number of hospitals so get some variation but also do some remote working from home. My current project is replacing radiology equipment which involves of talking with suppliers, radiologists and specialists to ensure the rooms are fit for purpose. "

"I went to college and got 3 A-Levels in Business, Design technology and Maths. I then went to Sheffield Hallam University and got a degree in Architecture and Environmental Design. When I joined Wates, I did a lot of day courses in topics such as Site management, First Aid, Crane and Lifting management and Asbestos Management. Once I had built my knowledge, training and experience up, I become a Chartered Construction manger through a professional body, Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).In previous role in quality, I did my auditing course with the BSI and I am now also a Practitioner in Quality with Chartered Institute of Quality. I am currently working through a course in project management through APM now to support my current role. "