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Sarah Clark: Championing Well-being and Diversity in Construction
Sarah Clark, a Safety Coordinator at ACCIONA, sees her role as ensuring the well-being of her colleagues. "I am part of the on-site Safety team supporting our delivery team to ensure that we have the right controls in place to mitigate risks to people physically and mentally," she explains.
"What motivates me is people. I love ensuring that people are happy and healthy coming to work and that at the end of the day they go home the same way back to their families."
Sarah's journey with ACCIONA began with a traineeship on the Southern Program Alliance. Despite having diverse experiences in various industries like teaching, coaching, sales, and even hairdressing, she found her niche in safety. "I completed my traineeship and was able to join on-site safety team. It was great that they had the trust in me to do the job," she recalls proudly. Now, she's part of the M80 Ring Road Completion, involved in initiatives like women in construction, diversity and inclusion, and psychosocial safety in the workplace. Her dedication has earned her a spot in the Women in Construction leadership course over the next six months.
As a single mum, flexibility is crucial for Sarah. While being on-site limits flexibility, she's grateful for the understanding and accommodation from her management. "I have been able to discuss my personal circumstances with my management and they have accommodated what I need," she says. This flexibility allows her to balance her responsibilities as a mother while passionately pursuing her career in safety.
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Thriving in Sustainability: Faranak Ghobadifar's Journey at ACCIONA
Faranak Ghobadifar is a Sustainability Coordinator at ACCIONA for the M80 Ring Road Project. Her role centres on integrating sustainability into construction projects, but her passion extends beyond that scope. She enjoys collaborating with various teams to implement eco-friendly practices and engage with local communities.
Reflecting on her journey at ACCIONA, Faranak described the company’s work culture as a place where collaboration is key, innovation is fostered, and every voice is valued.
ACCIONA embraces flexibility, enabling Faranak to balance her professional and personal commitments, including prioritising care for her daughter. She said, "Flexibility in my work schedule has made a big difference in how I feel. I can adjust my hours to fit my needs, which helps me work when I'm most productive. This makes me feel more balanced and energetic, benefiting both my personal and professional life." This adaptability has significantly improved her overall well-being and performance, illustrating the profound impact of flexible work arrangements at ACCIONA.
Overall, the flexible work environment enables her to achieve a better balance between work and personal life while maintaining productivity and collaboration within the team. For Faranak, ACCIONA is a workplace where she feels supported, valued, and empowered to succeed.
Road Safety meets Work-Life Balance with Erin Ross
Erin Ross is the Interface Manager on the M80 Ring Road Project. She's a leader in Governance and a bridge to our rail partners. Flexible work arrangements have played a crucial role, enabling her to balance her career and personal life effectively. "I have valued the trust my manager places in me and my team to manage our workloads in a way that suits our individual lives," Erin reflects, highlighting the empowering culture on the project.
Erin advocates for flexible work as a fundamental principle for everyone. She believes it fosters loyalty and empowers employees to achieve their best. “Everyone has interests and responsibilities outside of work and having the ability to balance that as you’d like to is hugely liberating. I think it creates a great trusting relationship between managers and employees”.
She goes on to say, “I’ve been so pleased to see the culture and leadership direction on this project supports the ways of working that I value. Respect and encouragement for all and looking out for our colleagues’ wellbeing.”
On this project, Erin has found a supportive culture that prioritises respect and work-life balance. It’s an environment where she can thrive personally and professionally and one where the team is encouraged to look out for each others wellbeing. This is a unique approach in construction and is supported by number of project initiatives.
"I’ve found everyone to be very friendly and willing to help, even when I know everyone has a lot to do," Erin remarks. "I love that one of the aims of the project is to create a fundamental shift in the way infrastructure projects are delivered."
