Member Article

Women take top construction jobs

Construction specialist Galliford Try Partnerships North has appointed women with significant industry experience to two top posts.

Sara Holmes, who for 17 years has been forging partnerships between developers and housing providers across the region, is the new Development Director.

Christine Curran, with 15 years in land management, is heading up the company’s involvement with the £350 million Gateshead Regeneration Partnership (GRP). As Galliford Try’s Development Director with GRP she will work alongside partners Gateshead Council and Home Group.

Sara, from Ashbrooke, Sunderland, said: “The business has a unique partnerships structure which enables us to secure sites for new developments which we can deliver either in conjunction with landlord partners or through our house building division, Linden Homes. I think this offers tremendous opportunities to develop some really exciting housing developments across the North East.”

Christine, from South Beach, Blyth, said: “I am delighted to be working on such a flagship scheme for the North East. The Gateshead Regeneration Partnership will provide over 2,400 much needed homes but more than that, it will deliver a step change in the value, quality and choice of housing in the region.”

The appointments come as the company, which is based at Great Park, Newcastle, released financial results which showed a trebling of turnover – to £27.7 million - and a return to profit - £178,000.

And they complement the recent re-alignment of the business to become a provider of turnkey housing solutions, rather than simply a builder, seeking to establish genuine partnerships with housing providers and its suppliers.

The main focus now is working with registered housing providers and local authorities to deliver extra care facilities for older people and affordable housing, while developing high quality new homes for sale through Linden Homes.

Key clients include Coast and Country, Isos, Livin, Home Group, Homes For Northumberland, Riverside, South Tyneside Housing Ventures Trust, Thirteen and Your Homes Newcastle.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Paul Dobbie .