Building resilience and capability: Shaping the future of Morgan Sindall Construction

We are trying to be more innovative. My project group is looking at carbon and we are exploring what other industries outside of construction have already done to see what elements we can learn from and adopt ourselves. As a business, we are quite risk-averse and therefore, sometimes, that can conflict with trying to be innovative. But we appreciate that we need to take risks in order to become more efficient, to improve and ultimately to be ahead of the competition – so it’s about trying to find a balance. Challenging the status quo has always been part of Morgan Sindall’s DNA, so this isn’t a change of priorities as such, but the programme has brought it more to the forefront and given it a sharper focus. When I’m in meetings now, I feel more confident to ask what is being done elsewhere in the business, in the industry, or outside of construction in other areas, that we can bring in to shape our work in the area, rather than just accepting that we will do things the way we have always done them. A lot of faith has been put in me in the role that I’m in now and I think the impact of the programme will probably come to fruition over the next 12 to 18 months in terms of maintaining what I’ve learned and applying it. I feel like I’m in a great position in the business and now it’s case of reinforcing the faith that’s been put in me so I can be seen as a great leader within Morgan Sindall. Of all the courses I have been on, this was probably the one I’ve got the most out of. Being on the programme has given me the motivation to look at myself on a daily basis and ask myself: ‘How can I be the best leader today?’. Instead of getting bogged down in the day-to-day and allowing the diary to take control, I am trying to take control and give myself time to think and be that leader, rather than just process information. That shift is quite motivating, because it’s allowing me to do what I’m here to do. I’m also seeing that cascade through my team as others take it on board too. There are always going to be challenges, but taking part in the programme has given me the tools to deal with those challenges in the best way I can. Overall, I think the programme has been fantastic, and I’m confident that the support network we’ve developed and the contacts we have gained at Cranfield will be a great benefit to Morgan Sindall in the future.

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