This month, we’re spotlighting incredible women shaping the future of our industry — and we’re kicking things off with Sophie Seddon.

Sophie is a senior construction executive, shareholder at Novus Property Solutions, Non-Executive Director, and Board Trustee at CITB. With over a decade of experience across marketing, HR, client engagement and leadership, she brings a rare, full-spectrum view of what truly drives performance in construction and property.

In this episode, we go beyond projects and pipelines — and into what really matters:

👉 Leadership from both executive and non-executive perspectives 👉 Why culture is the biggest driver of business performance 👉 The power of psychological safety in high-pressure environments 👉 Creating inclusive workplaces where people can thrive 👉 The future of construction, facilities management and ESG

One of the most powerful takeaways:

“When people feel safe, everything improves — decision-making, retention, innovation and wellbeing.”

Whether you’re in construction, facilities management, property, or working with high-value clients — this is a conversation about building better businesses, not just buildings.

• How Non-Executive roles change leadership thinking • Why psychological safety is a commercial advantage • How to build cultures that retain and attract talent • The role of inclusivity in long-term industry success • What gives real hope for the future of construction

This episode is for:

🏗 Construction professionals 🏢 Facilities management leaders 💼 Property developers & HNW client advisors 🌱 ESG & sustainability advocates 👷‍♀️ Women building careers in the industry

“If I could change one thing — it would be genuine psychological safety, where people feel safe to speak openly about challenges and opportunities.”

This is the first in a special series featuring women shaping our industry.

Coming up next: ✨ Faye Allen — Founder of Building Women ✨ Lucy Dixon — InstallerSHOW

🎧 Follow the podcast for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of construction, property and the built environment.

In this episode of Tap Into Something Better, host Hannah Freeman Jarvis is joined by Anna Rzepczynski, founder of We Build Too — a groundbreaking platform designed to empower women in construction and reshape an industry that is long overdue for change.

Anna shares the real experiences that led her to build We Build Too, from witnessing talented women being pushed out of the sector to navigating outdated and often patronising systems as a customer herself.

Together, Hannah and Anna explore:

• Why women still feel unseen and unsupported in construction

• The systemic barriers holding back progress (and why slogans aren’t enough)

• The urgent need for better data, safety, and inclusion on sites and in leadership

• What the industry could look like in 10 years if women truly thrive

• And the one change Anna believes would make workplaces better for everyone

This is an honest, insightful conversation about designing industries that work for all — and building a future where women don’t just enter construction, but lead it.

🎧 Listen now and discover how We Build Too is helping pave the way for the next generation. And please sign up for their newsletter here to find out more about the platform, services & take part in future surveys/research.

🎙 New Podcast Episode: Leadership, Veterans & Building Better Workplaces

In this episode of Tap Into Something Better, I’m joined by Alistair Scott — a leader who truly walks the talk when it comes to people-first leadership in facilities management.

Alastair is:

• Founding Director of Maze Vanguard Group

• Founder of Integrated Estate Management (IEM)

• A driving force behind the IWFM Veterans in FM Network

• Board member of Veterans Can

• Ambassador for Care After Combat

• 🏆 Veteran Leader of the Year (Veterans Awards, Oct)

We dive into:

• Why ex-service personnel are hugely underestimated in FM

• How veterans bring real-world leadership, resilience and delivery under pressure

• Why compliance and sustainability must be treated as wellbeing and safety issues, not tick-box exercises

• A brilliantly simple way to think about building compliance (hint: think MOT, not paperwork)

• Why trust — not beanbags or foosball tables — is the single biggest missing ingredient in modern workplaces

This conversation is about more than FM. It’s about leadership, inclusion, purpose and designing workplaces that actually work for human beings.

🔗 Explore Alistair’s work and the organisations we discuss:

• Integrated Estate Management (IEM): https://integrated-em.com/

• IWFM Veterans in FM Network: https://www.iwfm.org.uk/community/veterans-in-fm.html

• Veterans Can: https://www.linkedin.com/company/veterans-can/

• Maze Vanguard Group: https://mazevanguard.co.uk/

If you care about: ✔ Better leadership ✔ Supporting veterans in industry ✔ Smarter, safer, more human workplaces

— this episode is for you.