Krystal Hutchinson, project manager

“I joined BAM six years ago on an apprenticeship degree programme that combined workplace training with studying. I would recommend this route as it gives you the onsite experience as well as the academic side. I spent the first two years learning about different disciplines. I then decided to go down the site management route and have recently been promoted to site manager and finished my degree.

Broadgate Tower is my first project as a site manager. We currently have around 40 to 50 people on site. We manage the supply chain, deliveries, and all site activities. It’s what I enjoy about the role – being in the middle and helping keep everything moving.

The project I am currently working on is called the Pavilion and is scheduled for completion in December 2026. This project is a three storey extension to the existing structure, Broadgate Tower. We’ve completed the demolition phase and over the next few months, we’ll see the steel frame go up. Seeing the site progress from demolition to construction is rewarding.

The other important part of construction for me is building relationships with the supply chain. Understanding what people need and what I need from them can make or break a project. If you have good relationships, productivity is better, programme dates are met, and you can ultimately hand over a building you’re proud to have been part of.

For me, collaboration comes down to communication. My dissertation explored what makes construction teams work well together, and effective communication helps keep projects on programme and on budget. That means keeping everyone informed, getting their opinions, and involving them in the process. Construction is very much about people. You need technical knowledge, but collaboration is about how you treat people. No one wants to come to work and be spoken to in a poor manner.”