After more than two decades in the scaffolding sector, including a long tenure at TRAD and five years at Connect Scaffolding, Diane knows precisely what she’s looking for in a workplace, and Millcroft ticks every box. For Diane, Millcroft is 'home from home.'
From Essex to Australia, and back again
Born in Chingford, East London, Diane emigrated to Australia with her family at eight. “I loved it as a young girl,” she says. “But my parents couldn’t settle, so we moved back a few years later.”
Diane initially began her career in the financial sector, spending 11 years at NatWest. One of her most rewarding projects was implementing the bank's 'partially sighted division,' which translated all documentation into braille and large print. "That was my first job within the bank. I walked into the position straight from school, and what a great opportunity and learning curve it was. I loved learning braille (grade 1)," Diane recalls. But her banking career ended when the Royal Bank of Scotland took over NatWest in 2000.
From banking to building
Diane’s move to the construction sector came about thanks to her twin sister, who worked at TRAD Scaffolding. “She had nothing but great things to say about the company,” Diane explains. “When the MD was looking for another surveyor, she suggested me.”
At TRAD, Diane received extensive in-house training from other surveyors and external training in contract law, which, as she says, is "probably the most important part of our role nowadays."
She spent 18 years with the company, where a career highlight was working on the Olympic Park project. However, when the Altrad Group bought TRAD, Diane was unexpectedly made redundant following a business restructuring.
Diane loved working in the sector and so then joined Connect Scaffolding as a Senior QS, where she worked for five years.
Joining the Millcroft team
"I knew Millcroft, and I knew they had a good reputation," says Diane, who contacted the company to ask about QS opportunities. Diane had an interview with MD Billy Jones and joined the team a week later as our Senior QS in May 2024.
Diane notes with a smile that despite days of rain before her start, "The day I started working at Millcroft, the sun started shining!"
The day in the life of a Senior QS
Diane’s responsibilities are diverse and demanding. She vets sub-contracts, carries out monthly valuations, and visits sites to meet clients and checks works. She's also involved in pricing variation orders, negotiating with contractors, and resolving disputes.
Currently, she's working on Millcroft’s HS2 contract, which she describes as a ‘once in a lifetime project.’ Diane spends two days a week on-site, which means early starts and the remainder of the week at Head office.
Away from work, Diane enjoys spending time with family and friends and loves heading out on long walks in the forest to keep fit.
A sector and a company she loves…
Looking back on her career journey, Diane says, “I'm proud of all of it. I'm pleased I jumped from the financial sector into construction, and specifically the scaffolding industry."
When asked to explain what makes Millcroft so special to her, Diane is clear. "Millcroft is a family-run business. And whilst it sounds corny, it's like home from home. If you work hard, it's recognised," she says. She appreciates the "great management, great team of people," and the exciting projects she works on.
