Careers @ UKE
A Great Place to Work

STAFF SPOTLIGHT

OLIVIA CHADWICK 

PROJECT ADMINISTRATOR

What does your role involve?

I am responsible for the administration side of the projects, including making purchase orders, checking risk and method statements, applying for permits, managing subsistence and hotel payments, making sundries orders and setting up new subcontractors.

I make sure everyone has access to the most up to date information and aim to keep things running as smoothly as possible from behind the scenes.

How have you progressed since you started at UKE?

When I started working at UKE I was a graduate with very little work experience. Before going back to do my master’s degree I wanted to take a gap year to gain some new professional skills and experience. With UKE I learn something new every day and have developed my knowledge significantly.

UKE have made me feel more confident in my abilities, and have been very supportive while I learn new skills. I’m now completely competent in tasks I’d never even heard of before, and feel as though I can apply these new skills to many areas of my life.

What do you like the most about your job?

I love the office atmosphere and knowing that I am a point of contact should anyone on site need anything. I like being able to help and support others wherever possible. 

I’ve grown good relationships with all of the staff during my short time here, and I take full pride in the work I have achieved so far. I look forward to seeing how much more I can develop professionally with the support of UKE. 

This is my first time working in a construction environment and it is clear that there are great opportunities for women and UKE encourage and support more women in the construction sector.

What types of skills and experience have you learned in your role?

I have learned so much at UKE, here are just a few examples:

I am now a whiz on Excel – I have learned how to create databases from scratch, export data from different applications into Excel and do detailed financial analysis, including profitability and cash-flow.

I have learned about things that are specific to the construction industry, such as the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS), where tax is deducted from sub-contractors’ payments and paid directly to HMRC.

I have been involved with booking training and maintaining the training database for the UKE technicians.  This has shown me that electricians and electrical apprentices have a very high standard of training, including skills training, regulatory training and health and safety, which needs to be maintained year-on-year.

I am involved in collating information for the operation and maintenance manuals which are provided at handover to building occupiers.  I have to work closely with the project manager, manufacturers and suppliers, search for information on the internet, work with complex folder structures, MS Word and Adobe.

The role is incredibly varied and rewarding. I’ve learned so many new things, all of which will help me in my future career.