Guildford-based housebuilder Barratt Southern Counties is celebrating success at the Women in Housing Awards 2023, with commercial manager Laura Barnett having won the prestigious ‘Woman of the Future’ category.
The ‘Woman of the Future’ award celebrates the leaders of tomorrow, highlighting the women who have made an exceptional contribution to the teams and communities they work with.
Laura was commended by the judges, who recognised her unwavering dedication to the industry, and her unfailing drive and commitment to uplifting other women working in construction.
Laura has spearheaded a number of new initiatives over the past year that have helped Barratt Southern Counties to improve the quality of green spaces at its developments, benefiting both people and nature.
New Estate Management Review Meetings, implemented by Laura, have set a company-wide procedure focusing on ecology and arboriculture-related commitments, and achieving implementation of open spaces to the highest standards.
Laura’s focus on creating community spaces, as well as building homes, continues to drive Barratt Southern Counties’ ethos of creating ‘great communities’.
Her multidisciplinary approach has been shaped by her successful track record with Barratt Southern Counties. Having joined the business in 2012 as a commercial assistant, Laura was promoted to assistant surveyor within 18 months.
She was quickly promoted again to surveyor within 17 months, and then senior surveyor two years later. A year later, Laura began a new role as managing surveyor and then was promoted again to commercial manager in 2021.
Laura said: “It’s a fantastic achievement to be recognised as the Women in Housing Awards’ ‘Woman of the Future’.
“I am proud of my progression within Barratt Southern Counties. A large part of my current role is focused on supporting and uplifting the people around me, both within my own team of surveyors and administrative staff, as well as many other colleagues in the business, and I strongly believe that open communication and a great team ethic is the way forward.
“I am truly passionate about construction, and believe in the power of working together to build a better future for us all.”
Julian Hodder, managing director for Barratt Southern Counties, added: “We are incredibly proud of Laura’s success. Her drive and commitment remains a real testament to her character, and her work will benefit not just the communities where we are building homes today, but ensures that our developments are future-proofed for the years to come.”
