Laura Lear – Head of Business Development

As March marks both Women in Construction and International Women’s Day, we’re also happy to be adding to our Women In Construction series with Laura Lear, Head of Business Development here at Casa.

Kat chatted with Laura about her career and experience in the Asbestos Industry. Laura has been in the industry for 22 years, and with Casa for ten, and in that time has seen all aspects of the industry and become a central part of Casa’s success.

K: How long have you been in the industry and how did you get into it?
L: I started as a trainee surveyor back in 2003 after a short stint working for the Environmental Agency in their Laboratories in Devon. I graduated from University with a BSc (Hons) in Geography, and a large part of my degree was fieldwork, so I knew I wanted to do something that got me out and about, seeing different places and meeting different people.

I seemed to be pretty good at surveying and quickly moved up the ranks to Senior Surveyor after gaining my BOHS P402. My dad is a RICS Chartered Surveyor, and as a kid I remember spending a lot of time in the summer holidays helping him on site and with measuring tape and sticking moisture meters into walls, so I think I got the surveying bug from him – plus I loved looking around the really posh houses that he used to survey in Sandbanks, Poole!
My experience in labs also helped me to gain my P401, this enabled me to conduct the bulk analysis of samples in our UKAS accredited lab. I used to really enjoy finding unusual things on site then getting back to the lab to see what they contained! Unapologetically geeky!

K: Has your opinion of the industry changed from when you started over 2 decades ago to now?
L: The industry has changed dramatically over the last 20 years, and for the better! With new regulations and changes to survey types, the industry is much better regulated, and the quality of surveying has hugely increased. As Health & Safety and Compliance training has increased, our clients are looking to employ the best consultants and are looking for UKAS Accredited companies to undertake the work. This is definitely a shift from the early ‘00s when it was more of an inconvenience to get a survey done and many clients often went for the cheapest option. Now our clients have a comprehensive understanding of the current regulations and want to ensure their properties are fully compliant, keeping everyone safe, which is our ultimate goal.

K: Would you say there are elements of operating in the industry that are more difficult as a woman?
L: In all honesty I haven’t come across many difficulties conducting my roles as a surveyor or as a branch manager. I am a firm believer that if you work hard and are good at what you do then you should be respected, and your hard work recognised regardless of gender.

K: What advice would you give young women interested in a role like yours?
L: Go for it! It’s a great industry to be a part of! No day is the same and you get to see some amazing places and meet some interesting characters. I’ve surveyed so many different types of properties, from Stately homes, Theatres, MOD sites, Parliament buildings and hospitals, to treehouses and allotment sheds!
Never think an industry is only for a certain gender, we are all equal in this world and if you have a passion for something then go and do it! I will be encouraging my daughter to do any job she wants to, currently she wants to play cricket for England, so we will see how that pans out!

K: Your roles at Casa have shifted over the years, can you tell me a bit about that and how you found going from operation to Business Development?
L: I started at Casa as regional surveying manager for our Hampshire Branch, and then over the last few years I have headed up the Business Development Team. It’s been a great transition as I know our industry and company inside out, having worked on, and set up many large contracts. Therefore I know the pitfalls and challenges, and the importance of excellent communication with our clients.

I love my role, and it takes me to so many different places for meetings and site visits, recently I was in a Giraffe enclosure at a local wildlife centre! I think that knowing our industry like I do gives potential new clients confidence in how we work and the service that we can provide. It also means that I can support our Branch Managers with their contracts and clients, as I know the information they need and any issues that they face on a day-to-day basis. We are such a team at Casa and we all support each other in our roles throughout the company.

I want to thank Laura for taking the time chat with me about her role – one of the things I love most about this news series is hearing everyone’s unique journey, and hearing about Laura go from a trainee surveyor, to branch manager now to head of business development in the company is a pleasure.
Are you interested in a career in the Asbestos Industry? We’d be delighted to have a chat with you about any opportunities we have coming up, please get in touch.