Viki Fitzgerald Employee Q&A

Through this insightful interview, Viki shares her experience stepping into her new role as Trainee Project Manager, reflecting on her responsibilities and what it’s really like working in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

Tell us a little about you and how you came to be working for REDS Group?

I have been working in a variety of Administrative and Operational roles since I left college in 2001.  Before joining REDS, I had been working as a Product Development Administrator and Co-ordinator for a footwear company based in Exeter.  When Covid19 hit the UK and the first lockdown was announced, I was placed on furlough.

Due to working in a retail-based sector I knew that the outcome probably wouldn’t be good news so I immediately started looking for a new job. I was made redundant from that role in June 2020, by which time I had already been interviewed by Julia Murch, HR and Compliance Manager, for the Operations Administrator role. Two days after I had my redundancy notification, Julia called and offered me the position.

I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason, if it hadn’t been for furlough, I would probably have never started looking for a new job and found out that REDS were hiring.  I am so pleased that I did, as I am thoroughly enjoying being part of the REDS team.

You have recently been promoted to Trainee Project Manager. How has the transition been so far, and what have you enjoyed most about the role?

The transition has been busy, challenging, and genuinely exciting in a good way! It’s definitely been a step up in responsibility with regards to pulling the tender meetings together and getting all the pieces of the puzzle together, but I’ve really enjoyed learning something new every day. The part I’ve enjoyed most is seeing projects come together from start to finish and being more involved in the bigger picture, rather than just one piece of it. It’s also been great working more closely with different teams and clients — no two days are ever the same, which suits me perfectly.  I also really enjoyed my SMSTS Course, I love learning and generally being a bit of a nerd!

How has your day-to-day at work changed since moving from Operations into Project Management?

My day-to-day has shifted from being very reactive — dealing with resource planning and operational issues as they arise — to being much more structured and forward-planned. I now spend more time organising planned jobs, attending meetings, working on tenders, and setting the day up proactively rather than responding to problems in real time. While it’s a different pace, but no less busy, I really enjoy being able to plan ahead and have more control over how the day runs, even if there’s still the occasional curveball to keep things interesting.

The construction and environmental sector is often seen as male-dominated. What has your experience been like, and how does REDS support and encourage women across the business?

While the industry does have that reputation, my experience at REDS has been really positive. I’ve always felt supported by the people I work closely with for my skills and ideas. REDS encourages progression based on ability, not gender, and I’ve felt genuinely encouraged to step outside my comfort zone and take on new challenges. Having supportive managers and colleagues who champion development makes a huge difference. I’m grateful for Andrew Murch and Ben Hiscock, who are never too busy to support and teach me new things, and to Lucy Hutchinson, who has always been supportive in helping me grow professionally.

What advice would you give to other women considering a career in this industry?

Don’t be put off if you don’t come from an industry background or feel like you don’t tick every box — I certainly didn’t when I first joined REDS six years ago. I’ve been really lucky to work alongside some incredibly knowledgeable people who were happy to let me watch, ask questions, and learn from them. Being keen, curious, and willing to learn has honestly been just as important as any technical knowledge. Back yourself, take opportunities when they come, and don’t be afraid to learn as you go — it can take you much further than you might expect.

When you are not at work, how do you like to spend your time?

When I’m not at work, I love spending time with my husband and our three children, who keep life busy in the best possible way. We also have an idiot dog called Murphy who keeps me on my toes and provides daily entertainment. When I get the chance to switch off, I enjoy listening to audiobooks and history and true crime podcasts and drinking lots and lots of Costa Coffee.