When it comes to successful projects, there is often someone working diligently behind the scenes, taking care of every detail to ensure things run smoothly. Corita Ware, Project Coordinator at Millcroft, is one of those unsung heroes. Here she talks about her career and how she expertly navigates the challenges and successes of her evolving role.
Corita entered the workforce straight from school. “I worked for Golden Tours where I escorted tourists to Paris to meet their tour guide, and then met up with them at the end of the day and brought them back to London via Eurostar,” explains Corita. This was a lot of responsibility for someone in their early 20s, but dealing with demanding tourists helped Corita to hone her interpersonal and customer service skills.
From there, Corita moved to the professional workplace, starting her career in office administration. She initially worked for Lambeth Council, DeltaRail and later with international defence company Babcock, where she handled administrative tasks for the Met Police account. To work for Babcock, Corita had to undergo intense background checks, including family history and personal details, which gave her an insight into detailed inspections and vetting processes, proving invaluable later in her career when she became responsible for administrating industry accreditations.
Despite these being male-dominated environments, Corita thrived but was soon looking for her next challenge. “When I left Babcock, I was looking for somewhere with more responsibility and better pay. It was by chance I came to work at Millcroft.”
The start of a rewarding career at Millcroft
A recruitment agency approached Corita about an opening for a Credit Controller/Office Administrator position at Millcroft: “I’d never done any credit control before, but I enjoy a challenge, so I put my CV forward, was asked for an interview, and got the job.”
Corita’s six years with Millcroft reflect her adaptability and commitment to learning on the job. Her core duty involved tough credit control and chasing down late customer payments. “There was always an excuse as to why they hadn’t released payment, and they’d often promise ‘we’ll pay next week’,” Corita explains. “I learnt to be persistent and stand firm.”
Alongside this, Corita also became responsible for managing the company’s accreditations which require meeting demanding industry requirements. “We’ve got about ten accreditations, so we are audited ten times a year. That means I have an audit to manage virtually every month,” says Corita.
Anyone involved in accreditations understands that these are time-consuming and require meticulous attention to detail. “This was something I’d never done before, but you learn as you go along. You can be pulled up for very minor things such as not having a document signed, so when I get these closed, I do feel a sense of pride and achievement.”
A can-do attitude
When one of Millcroft’s trainee Quantity Surveyors left the company, Corita was asked if she wanted to take on part of his role and work on the HS2 project as Project Coordinator. As she was already undertaking administrative roles for the project, including setting up training and making sure team members had the right competencies, it seemed natural for her to expand her role.
Now, Corita spends one day a week onsite at Millcroft’s HS2 office. “You get to know the guys and put faces to the names which I like,” says Corita. Meeting her colleagues in person fosters better communication and builds trust. “It’s 100% better,” she enthuses. ”They come straight to me if they want me to create a spreadsheet or do admin tasks for them.”
Overcoming challenges
When asked what she likes the most about her varied role, Corita says: “I’ve learnt different things over the years and really enjoyed it.” From mastering credit control to building solid working relationships, every accomplishment started with a willingness to step out of her comfort zone.
“Just getting on with things, having a laugh now and then” has helped Corita develop resilience in the industry. She says, “I might gripe now and then, but we all do.” Letting go of the little things makes the challenging days easier to confront.
The changing landscape
Spending time on site, Corita has noticed that the construction industry landscape is changing. There’s an increased presence of women, especially in roles that men traditionally carried out.
Corita feels proud when she sees younger women entering the construction fields. “It’s nice to see different ages – young women, girls and ladies in their 60s.” Though companies still have progress to make, Corita is optimistic about the increasing diversity in the sector. “100%, I’ve noticed a change. It’s lovely to see the different age groups and backgrounds.”
Inspiring others
Corita’s willingness to learn on the job and adapt to new tasks has enabled her to advance in an industry where women can be underrepresented. Her positive experience at HS2, witnessing women of all ages and backgrounds making their mark in the industry, should encourage others to consider a career in construction.
In the end, Corita’s successful journey is a testament to her adaptability, resilience and of embracing challenges. As Corita says: “If you want to succeed, you’ve got to just get on with it.”
