Role

Head of Cost Management UK, Retail Developments Sector Lead

Location

Birmingham, United Kingdom

Sara joined Gleeds in 2015 as Sector Lead for Retail Developments based on her role as a key player in the successful delivery of award-winning retail and mixed-use urban regeneration schemes across the UK. She is now Gleeds’ National Sector Lead for Regeneration, in addition to leading Gleeds’ cost management business.

Sara has thirty years’ experience in the construction industry and has worked for several prominent consultancies serving public and private sector clients across various sectors. She has a focus on and passion for urban centre renewal. Recognised as both a technical expert and thought leader within the industry, Sara has a reputation as scheme facilitator, connecting people to unlock challenging regeneration schemes. She has embraced the opportunities offered by the changing marketplace and the expanding pool of facilitators and funders supporting our urban renaissance, and is leading on the future visioning of our towns and cities.

Through her collaboration with private and public sector clients, Sara works to foster a greater sense of placemaking and community interaction. This has become increasingly important as the industry shifts its focus to broader city centre regeneration, involving partnerships with residential, education, life sciences and healthcare developers.

One of the most satisfying aspects of working in the industry is the direct impact of your efforts in creating environments for people to live and work in. It's rewarding to know that your work will have a tangible impact on people's daily lives.

Sara sits on the Operating Board of Revo, a membership body which represents owners, occupiers and professional consultancies in the retail and leisure sphere. In this role, she hosts member networking events and is a sought-after contributor to thought leadership initiatives. Revo's expansive network provides her with exciting opportunities to connect with the sector’s brightest minds.

Sara has a history of providing mindful leadership to both improve technical capabilities and motivate and inspire staff at all levels. She believes that service delivery excellence alone does not offer a true differentiating factor in the current fast-moving world, in which consultants should prioritise becoming strategic partners to clients and influencers. Her focus is on supporting clients to achieve the advantage in their marketplace through creativity and ingenuity.

Sara has a passion for establishing connections, unlocking opportunities and satisfying clients which propels her out of bed each morning. Outside of work, Sara’s time is taken up by four horses and a love for show jumping and the adrenaline rush which that offers!

From Sara

  • Insight

Common Cost Management Questions during COVID19

| 4 min read
  • Insight

Changing Places - A new chapter for urban regeneration

| 3 min read
  • Insight

Renaissance of Urban Centres

| 3 min read