Steven

About my job

What does your department do?

We are responsible for setting and updating the NHBC Standards, providing house builders & their designers with guidance on standards for the materials used, design specifications and site work. For example, this could be updating Chapter 5.4 on Drainage- what minimum rainfall to design for, what size drains & falls should be used to make sure the system functions well.

What might a typical day involve?

It really varies. I might be providing colleagues in the technical team with advice on one of the Standards, or if a builder is using a new product and the team needs guidance, I will be called in to review the new product and make sure it meets with our Standards.
I also spend time, voluntarily, meeting with external institutions such as the British Standards Institution (BSI) contributing to and gaining wider perspectives, and helping to set standards related to house building.

What is the best part of your job?

I enjoy working for my company partly because of what we do in raising standards in the house building industry, and the safety net we provide to new home owners. On a personal level, I love working from home and the flexibility and benefits it provides me. I also really enjoy interacting with a wide range of stakeholders.

Why did you choose this career?

I have always been interested in finding solutions to problems, Engineering allowed me to pursue this passion.

What was your route into the industry, what qualifications did you take?

Originally, I qualified as a Civil and Structural Engineer at university. But I have continued to develop through my career, becoming a Principle Engineer at my company and then undertook management training to transition into my role today in Engineering Policy.

What advice would you give to someone looking for a career in your area of work?

I will encourage them to persevere in whatever they are doing, but to be steadfast and pursue their passion in the built environment, if they have any attraction for the industry.