AI Magazine Issue 7 2018

80 Acquisition International - Issue 7 2018 Construction Project Safety Ltd (CPS) has been improving the health and safety standards for 100s of contractors and clients across the UK in a fast, efficient and cost-effective manner. Their founder and Director, Victoria Godberford, has recently been awarded ‘Construction H&S Consultant of the Year 2018 - UK’. We found out more about Victoria and the importance of inspiring other women to join this male dominated industry. ictoria founded CPS in 2006 with a passion for delivering health and safety solutions that adopt a practical, no- nonsense, innovative approach. She has 18 years’ health and safety experience from helping contractors carry out risk assessments to multi-million pound new build, refurbishment and conservation projects. Victoria is an accredited CDM Consultant with the Association of Project Safety (APS), a Safety Practitioner member of the Institute of Occupation Health and Safety (IOSH) and an active Associate member of the Institute of Building Conservation (IHBC). “Since a child I have always been interested in business, and dreamt of running my own when I grew up. After launching CPS, I never looked back”, says Victoria, “I have had three children since founding the business and have found juggling being a single mother and running a company to be a challenge, but I have embraced every moment and I believe I have succeeded on both accounts. My company is growing stronger and my children are extremely happy.” The percentage of women working in the construction industry and that of Health & Safety remains low. There is much more that can be done to shrug off the stereotypical image of people who work in these fields and to support, attract and retain more women in the industry. Research, carried out in 2017 showed that only 13% of women between the ages of 15 – 16 years would consider a career in construction. Here is what Victoria has to say on the matter. Company: Construction Project Safety Ltd Contact: Victoria Godberford Address: Unit 2, St Ives Way, Sandycroft, Chester CH5 2QS - United Kingdom Phone: 00 44 (0)1244 780 033 Email: [email protected] Web: www.constructionps.co.uk AWinning Approach to Health & Safety Solutions V IW180044 “I would like to send this message to all women - don’t let any pre-conceptions about a career in construction or becoming a mother allow you give up on your business/career dreams and aspirations. Where there is determination and drive, there is a way! Having taken this path myself, I actively promote the sector to other women who want to embark on a career in construction. There are a growing number of excellent online forums and networking events held specifically for women, these are proving to be a great source of support and encouragement. I think the construction industry has become easier for women to enter as I have found there is less stigmatism than there was when I started 12 years ago. There is more encouragement in schools for girls to embark on a career in construction and engineering. I would like to see more construction career promotion throughout schools in the future for girls. There are so many options from project management, to health and safety, to surveying and so much more. Winning this award, on a personal note, is a great step to demonstrate, encourage and to raise awareness to attract more women to this profession.” CPS has grown from strength to strength in its first 12 years by working together with contractors and not for contractors, but Victoria is keen to keep improving and adding onto the list of professional services they offer. The company will retain focus on its core expertise in Construction (Design and Management) Consultancy service, but due to demand and feedback from their clients, they are moving heavily into online service provisions. Through Victoria’s forward thinking and vision, CPS now offer 18 online training courses with an aim to keep businesses safe and compliant in a cost effective and efficient way; from the construction industry to the food sector they have a programme to suit. All courses can be accessed from anywhere at anytime or the day. The one-on-one tutor led interactive programmes allow its users to receive the optimum development and learning experience “I would like to send this message to all women - don’t let any pre-conceptions about a career in construction or becoming a mother allow you give up on your business/career dreams and aspirations.”