How did you get into what you do?

The construction industry and Phoenix ME have been in my family for over 50 years, and with my educational background, social value was a natural career option for me. Being able to do it at Phoenix ME felt like the perfect fit.

How has your career progressed since?

The ESG department has grown alongside the company’s growth, to the point where we are now a recognised department within the business, with critical output on almost every project. My role in the social value aspect of ESG has become more pivotal due to the recent trend towards Section 106 and social value obligations on projects passed on to us by clients.

What skills do you need to be good at your job?

You need to be a good communicator and have the ability to work both upstream with our clients and downstream with our supply chain. Being creative and having strong organisational skills is essential, due to the variety of different initiatives that someone working in social value has to either be involved in or come up with themselves.

What do you enjoy most about your current role at Phoenix ME?

I enjoy the opportunity to give back to a multitude of charities, young people, and organisations around the major projects we work on. However, being able to organise company-wide initiatives – such as the project walk and five-a-side tournament – has given me some of my best memories at Phoenix ME.

Why is the Social Value department important in our business?

It’s important because it has become a key aspect of project delivery. Historically, it was overlooked as a box-ticking exercise, but due to legal and government changes to the tender and planning process for major projects, we’re seeing a sharp increase in social value obligations written into our contracts – which we must deliver for our clients.

How do you challenge yourself to reach new heights?

I strive to come up with innovative but tangible initiatives that benefit both our staff and our clients. By learning and taking inspiration from other industries, as well as social value peers in other construction companies, I’ve been able to grow and generate new benefits for our company.

What has been your proudest achievement at Phoenix ME so far?

Being able to make social value and ESG a functioning and recognised department within Phoenix ME has been my proudest achievement. It’s been incredibly rewarding to see it grow within the business and lead to the success of various events, such as the project walk.

What advice would you give to someone looking to get into what you do?

I’d advise them to have an open mind, be confident in the initiatives they come up with, but also be mindful that in everything we do, we must have research to reinforce the reasons behind it.

Why Phoenix ME?

As mentioned before, it’s a company that’s been a part of my family for such a long time—one I watched grow long before I even had my first day here. Since joining, the company has allowed me to grow alongside it, which has been great to see unfold.

What Phoenix ME value resonates most with you?

Togetherness – This is one of the vital components of social value. It’s always a team effort to deliver meaningful results, and it’s something I encourage all employees to get involved in.